••r^^m^rrm^^i^^^m^^^^^^m^mmmmmmmmmummmff 


d^\'X,OU'^ 


A  ISl 


HISTORICAL   SURVEY 


First  Presbyterian  Church 


*^ALDWELL,  N.  J., 


REV.    C.    T.*lBERRY,    PASTOR, 


J'j^l^TJj:^-B\ir    1,    1371. 


3?rinte<l     hy     the     Kcrxvie.st     of    the     Cony:re<;atioii. 


NEWAKK,    N.    J.: 

PIIINTEU    AT   THE    DAILY   ADVERTISER   OFFICE, 
1871. 


AGTIOxX  OF  THE  TlirSTEES  OF  THE  CHUliCH. 


liesolved,  TLat  Kcv.  Cliarlcs  T.  Ijcriy,  our  pastor,  be  requested  to  fur- 
nisli  for  publication,  a  copy  of  the  liistorical  discourse  lie  preached  on 
the  First  of  January,  1871,  and  that  the  Trustees  take  the  charge  of  an 
edition  of  five  hundred  copies. 


Page  4,  line  11,  for  there  read  their. 
"  7,  "  18,  for  then  read  than. 
"      8,     "      5,  erase  about. 

"      i»,     "      ZyCl  h-om  hoiiova.,  ior  exayerated  re-id  e.m(jgeraied. 
"    11,     "     5th  from  bottom,  ?jr.?ya(7«ft<  read /jreyafe?*/. 
"    12,     "    17,  for^a.v«6fe  read^jassaWe. 
"    15,     "    13,  for  at  read  a. 
"     15,     "      5,  of  note,  for  motlier  read  -wife. 
"    20,     "      1,  erase  final  the. 
"     23,     "    13,  for  1818  read  V808.  •     - 
27,     "    16,  for  or  read  of. 

16,  erase  comma  after  ^ross??/. 


33, 


38,     "      4,  for  tJiotisand  read  hundred. 


43 


8,  from  bottom  for  very  read  being. 


1 


1779-1871. 


Rcmeml^cr  the  clays  of  old,  consider  the  years  of  many  generations. — 
Deut.  83  :  7. 

Remember  ye  not  the  former  things,  neither  consider  the  things  of 
old.— Is.  43:  18. 

The  first  of  tliese  passages  occiu's  in  tlie  memorable  "  Song- 
of  Moses,"  Avliich  immediately  preceded  his  l>lessing  of  the 
Children  of  Israel,  just  previous  to  his  death  on  Mount  Nebo. 

The  chief  design  of  its  utterance  was,  doubtless,  to  recall 
the  distinguishing  kindness  which  God  had  shown  to  the 
Fatlicrs  of  His  chosen  people,  and,  for  their  sakes,  to  their 
children,  that  the  latter  might  be  reminded  of  their  obliga- 
tions, both  of  gratitude  and  interest,  to  cleave  unto  the  Lord 
their  God  as  their  fathers  had  done,  and  impelled  to  serve 
Him  witli  a  faithfulness  surpassing  theirs. 

The  second  passage  forms  part  of  a  prophecy  respecting 
this  same  ])eople,  delivered  seven  hundred  and  sixty  years 
afterwards.  iSTot  having  occupied  themselves  in  those  salu- 
tary remembrances  of  "  the  days  of  old"'  which  had  Ix'en 
inculcated  by  Moses,  or  in  inquiries  after  "  the  good  way  of 
the  old  paths  to  walk  therein,"  according  to  the  command  of 
the  covenant-keeping  God  of  their  fathers.  He  had  given 
them  over  to  the  severities  of  long  and  painful  captivity  in 
Babylon.  Yet  not  to  extermination  or  forgetfulness.  As 
if  in  answer  to  that  fervent  petition  of  their  wisest  king, 
otiered  at  the  dedication  of  the  Temple  more  than  tlu'ee  hun- 


dred  years  before,  God  listened  to  their  penitent  supplica- 
tions, and  sent  His  prophet  nnto  them  with  assurances  of 
deliverance.  And  this  second  segment  of  Holy  Writ,  is  a 
part  of  the  argument  with  which  the  whole  chapter  whence 
it  is  taken  is  filled,  in  proof  of  God's  protecting  care  and  the 
certainty  of  their  liberation.  He  briefly  recapitulates  all  His 
wonderful  emancipations  of  His  "  peculiar  people,"  and  now 
affirms  their  prospective  rescue  should  far  exceed  in  marvelous 
interposition  all  that  He  had  before  done  for  them.  So  singu- 
lar and  miraculous  would  it  seem  to  them  that  they  should 
in  view  of  it  forget  even  there  escape  from  Egypt.  This 
passage  then,  taken  in  its  connection,  simply  jneans,  compara- 
tive forgetfulness  of  certain  things  in  the  past,  because  of  the 
greater  importance  of  certain  things  in  the  near  future.  Yet 
disjointed  from  the  body  of  thought  to  which  it  belongs,  it 
reads  in  direct  contradiction  of  the  other  from  Moses.  And 
thus,  placed  in  seeming  opposition  because  apart  from  their 
connection,  they  may  serve  as  a  fair  specimen  of  the  hollow 
methods  in  frequent  employ  by  cavilers  to  disprove  the  Bible. 
My  object  in  the  selection  of  these  texts  as  a  point  of  de- 
parture on  this  occasion  is  readily  aj^parent.  Remeiiibi'ancc 
of  the 2Kist^  in  order  to  the  hetter  improvement  of  the jpresent^ 
is  a  duty  of  frequent  mention  in  the  Scriptures  : — a  duty  ra- 
tionally based,  whether  our  retrospect  concern  virtues  on  the 
one  hand,  or  vices  on  the  other  ;  for  if  the  former,  they  will 
supply  stimulus,  either  for  imitation  or  emulation ;  if  the 
latter,  for  avoidance  or  extirpation.  Apart  from  its  valuable 
lessons,  there  can  be  but  little  advantage  in  any  historical  re- 
view, and  I  should  not  certainly  have  undertaken  the  present 
one,  but  from  the  conviction,  that  the  events  of  our  church's 
existence  have  been  of  sufficient  importance,  to  justifj^  the  hope 
of  the  accomplishment  of  good  by  their  recall.  Indeed,  such 
is  my  anxiety  for  the  spiritual  future  of  the  church,  that  I 
would  fain  infer  from  the  abundant  effusion  of  God's  blessings 


upon  it  in  tlie  past,  His  willingness  to  again  bless  us,  and 
that  so  bountifully  as  to  exceed  even  the  magnitude  of  all  His 
former  gracious  visitations, 

"We  have  very,  very  much  for  which  to  day,  to  render 
devout  and  hearty  thanks  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church. 
Let  us  aim  to  do  it  in  the  best  of  all  ways — by  that  broad  and 
deep,  intense  and  ineradicable,  faith  for  the  future,  whicli, 
from  the  character  of  God  and  His  word,  and  His  dealings 
with  His  people,  is  the  only  limit  it  is  safe  to  place  upon  tlic 
measure  of  His  loving-kindness. 

As  to  the  date  of  the  settlement  of  this  section  of  country 
the  following  facts  furnish  us  data  for  judgment.  From  the 
Town  Records  of  Newark,  under  date  of  Oct.  2nd,  1G99,  thirty- 
three  years  after  the  settlement  of  Newark,  we  find  the  Town 
considering  the  proposal  to  "Purchase  a  Tract  of  land  lying 
westward  of  our  bounds  to  the  Passaick  River ;"  also  appoint- 
ing a  committee  of  two  (Mr.  Pierson  \and  Ensign  Johnson) 
"  to  go  and  treat  with  the  Proprietors  about  the  same,  to 
obtain  a  Grant."  There  is  no  evidence  of  their  obtaining: 
this  grant.  Mention  is  found,  liowever,  of  the  convej'ance  of 
a  certain  tract  lying  at  Horseneck,  as  this  whole  region  was 
then  called,  by  Letters  Patent  to  Sir  Thomas  Lane^  and  others, 
called  the  West  Jersey  Society,  on  the  10th  June,  1701.  The 
troubles  which  thickened  around  the  Proprietors  this  year 
became  so  great,  that  they  surrendered  their  right  of  govern- 
ment to  the  crown,  which  was  accepted  l)y  Queen  Anne, 
April,  lY,  1702. 

It  is  quite  probabl}'  due  to  the  ''  disturbances  and  confu- 
sions of  this  year(1701)  which  violently  agitated  the  minds  of 
the  people,''  that  the  desired  grant  was  not  secured  ;  and  to  the 
fact  of  the  proprietary  surrender  that  we  find  the  settlers  at 
Newark,     (hitherto  unimpeacliably  loyal   to  the;    I'rovincial 


1.  See  a  deed  in  poscssion  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Church  given  Marcli  22,  1774 
to  Caleb  Hetfield,  by  Col.  Coniclius  Ilettield,  Francis  Post,  A:  William  Crane. 


6 

Government,)  to  the  number  of  101 — "  the  generality  of  the 
town" — buying  directly  of  the  Indians,  (a  thing  forbidden  by 
Act  of  the  Assembly  eighteen  years  before,)  all  of  the  land 
"  Westward  or  Northwest  of  Newark,  within  the  compass  of 
the  Pasayack  Kiver,  and  so  Southward  unto  Monusing  Path, 
(viz.)  all  Land  as  yet  unpurchased  of  the  heathen."  ^ 

This  tract  amounted  to  13,500  acres,  according  to  the 
statement  of  the  Bill  in  Chancery.  The  amount  paid  for  it 
was  £130  or  about  $325.  A  deed^  for  it  was  obtained  of  the 
Indians,  "  which  said  deed  was  lost  by  fire  in  the  house  of 
Mr.  Jonathan  Pierson  of  Newark,  providentially  burnt  the 
7th  of  March,  1744-5,  and  bore  date  sometime  in  March  A. 
D.  1701-2." 

As  nearly  as  I  am  able  to  locate  this  land,  it  lay  between 
the  First  Mountain — called  by  the  Indians,  Watchung,  (sim- 
ply the  Indian  name,  Mr.  Cougar  thinks,  for  mountain,)  and 
the  Passaic  Piver,  and  between  the  present  road  through 
Livingston  from  Hanover  to  Orange,  for  its  southern  bound- 
ary, and  a  straight  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of  Pine 
Brook  a  little  to  the  north  of  Cedar  Grove  extending  to  the 
village  of  Acquackanonck,  for  its  northern  boundary.^  This 
allows  for  the  requisite  number  of  acres,  and  also  for  the 
grant  of  land  given  by  Indian  deed  in  1679,  to  a  Dutch  Com- 
pany from  Bergen  at  Acquackanonck,  and  afterwards  con- 
firmed l)y  proprietary  deed  in  1084,^  and  which  grant  doubt- 


1.  From  the  copy  of  a  document  kindly  furnished  me  by  Mr.  S.  H.  Congar  of 
Newark,  which  document  Is  endorsed  "A  trnc  copy  of  the  first  Committe." 
(See  Appendix  A.) 

2.  See  Appendix  B.  for  the  renewal  of  this  deed,  promptly  given  a  week  after 
tlie  loss  of  the  first,  and  signed  by  the  descendants  of  the  Sagamores,  who  had 
signed  the  first.  For  this,  as  likewise  for  much  valuable  assistance  in  obtaining 
facts,  the  writer  is  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Congar. 

3.  Since  the  discourse  was  delivered  the  writer  has  obtained  confirmation  of 
his  conjecture  respecting  the  Dutch  Line. 

4.  (See  Barber's  New  Jersey,  p.  405.) 


less  included  all  the  land  comprised  -within  the  bend  of  the 
Passaic,  from  Acquackanonck  on  the  East  to  Pine  Brook  on 
the  West.^ 

It  was,  in  fact,  frojn  this  Actiuackanonek  territory  in  part, 
though  much  more  largely  from  Newark,  that  the  bounds  of 
our  townshii)  were  formed  in  1798 — from  which  Livingston 
Avas  set  off  in  1812. 

These  boundary  lines  allow  also  for  the  inevitable  inference 
from  the  language  of  tlie  Indian  deed,  that  some  jjortion  of 
llorseneck  had  already  been  purchased,  and  a  dividing  line 
run  to  the  mouth  of  Pine  Brook — a  fact,  which  as  the  New- 
arkers  had  had  tlie  Dutch,  from  the  iirst,  for  near  neighbors, 
l)oth  in  ]>elleville  and  Bergen,  they  were  likely  to  be  in- 
forn)ed  of,  and  naturally  to  allude  to  when  s])eaking  of  the 
land  "yet  unpurchased  from  the  Indians." 

These  lines  also  satisfactorily  explain  tlie  forty  or  fifty, 
(possibly  sixty)  years  greater  age  of  the  Fairtield  ("'hurcli,* 
then  our  own  can  lay  claim  to,  and  the  fact  that  up  t(» 
the  year  1800,  preaching  in  Fairtield  was  almost  exclusively 
in  the  Dutch  language. 

Under  a  careful  survey  of  the  land  in  I  TIG,  the  llorseneck 
tract  was  ascertained  to  have  thirty -five  families  then  settled 
upon  it.     How  many  of  these  were  living  in  the  ])resent  vil- 


1 .  At  this  date  there  were  thought  to  be  about  5,200  inhabitants  in  the  prov- 
ince of  East  Jersey. 

?.  Mr.  Peter  Spier,  now  hving  at  the  a^c  of  ai,  in  Fairfield,  moved  there  from 
Caldwell  when  ten  years  of  age — the  .year  our  own  church  was  dedicated.  He 
well  remembers  the  Octagonal  Church  there,  which  he  attended  for  eight  years 
before  the  present  edifice  was  built  in  1804.  He  is  firmly  of  opinion,  judging 
from  the  superior  quality  of  the  timber  of  which  it  was  built,  and  from  its  ex- 
tremely dilapidated  condition  in  1804,  that  it  must  have  been  at  least  sixty  or 
seventy  year  old,  perhaps  older.  In  corroboration  of  this  is  the  fact  that  rec- 
ords of  the  baptisms  iu  this  church  go  back  to  1763,  and  it  is  said  that  the  rec- 
ords of  several  previous  years  were  burned.  It  is  not  unlikely,  that  a  church  was 
built  there  soon  after  the  church  in  Belleville,  which  was  erected  in  1727.  "At 
that  lime  that  church  and  the  one  at  Acqunckanonck  were  joined  in  one  body 
(Sec  Steams'  Newark,  p.  141.)  in  their  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  under  onemin- 
ietcr  to  dispense  the  word  and  ordinances  of  God  unto  thera." 


lage  of  CakhvL'll  or  its  iniinediatu  vicinity  there  is  no  means 
of  ascertaining.'^ 

It  may  perhaps  somewhat  aid  ns  to  form  a  more  correct 
judgment  ol  the  early  settlement  in  this  place  if  we  stop 
about  a  moment  to  inquire  about  neighboring  settlements. 

Newark,  in  ITlO  had  only  three  hundred  inhabitants;  as  late 
as  during  the  Eevolutionary  War  not  oxev  one  thousand. 

Cranetown,  as  Montclair  was  first  called,  was  settled  by 
Azai-iah  Crane,  about  the  year  ITUO.  When  he  came  to 
Xewark  in  lOCtJ  with  his  tathei-,  or  one  year  afterwards,  he 
was  about  twenty  years  old,  consequently,  about  lifty-four 
when  he  moved  to  Cranetown.  His  two  sons,  Nathan- 
iel and  xizariah,  peopled  that  place. 

Orange.^  had  a  sufficient  population  to  organize  a  church 
in  1719,  and  to  purchase  land  in  the  following  year  for  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  doubtless  built  soon  after. 

On  the  site  of  the  old  burying-ground  in  Whippany,"  thir- 
ty-four years  after  the  settlement  of  that  section,  a  church 
was  built  in  1710,  the  congregation'*  extending  over  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  territory  now  occupied  by  those  of 
Morristow^n,  Madison,  Parcipany,  Hanover  and  Chatham. 

In  1740,  Morribtown,^  begun  some  30  years  before,  was  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  build  and  support  its  own  church,  though 


1.  Mr.  Peter  Spier  of  Fairfield,  juBt  alluded  to,  (who  was  born  in  1786  ou  the 
west  North-Caldwell  road,  where  his  great-o-raudlather,  Tunis  Spier,  lived  and 
died,  and  his  grandfather,  John  was  horn  and  buried,  and  whose  great  uncle  ou 
his  mother's  side,  Francis  Spier  living  in  Clinton,  was  particularly  mentioned 
in  the  Bill  in  Chancery  as  living  at  Horsencck  in  1745,)  thinks  that  Caldwell 
proper  grew  about  as  rapidly  as  the  Clinton  and  Fairfield  section.  In  this  belief 
he  is  probably  correct,  as  no  doubt  Dutch  settlers  were  more  abundant  to  the 
East  of  Fairfield  Church  and  around  Little  Falls,  though  they  wended  their  way 
westward  to  church. 

2.  (See  Hoyt's  First  Church,  Orange,  pp.  4s  and  4!.).) 

3.  Barber's  New  Jersey,  p.  380. 

4.  The  township  of  '*  Whipponong"  Avas  set  otl'iu  1700,' and  changed  to  that  ot 
Hanover  in  1740. 

5.  Tuttle's  History  of  Madison  Church,  p.  II 


(J 

not  till  tliirt)^  years  later  did  the  village  contain  more  than 
two  hundred  and  fifty  souls. 

Ill  1748,  Madison,  probably  settled  about  1685,  likewise 
built  a  church.  In  1755,  a  uew  meeting-house  was  erected 
at  Ilanover-ueclc,  and  also  one  at  Parcipany,^  when  the  old 
AVhippauy  church  was  deserted. 

For  two  years  these  two  last-named  churches  were  served 
l)y  one  pastor,  the  Rev.  Jacob  (Ireeii,  who  had  already 
preached  for  nine  years  in  the  original  church  edifice  at 
Whippauy,  and  who  continued  with  the  Hanover  church  for 
the  next  thirty-five  years.  The  church  at  Parcipany  is  not 
believed  to  have  had  a  settled  pastor  until  1708 — or  thirteen 
years  after  its  house  of  worship  was  erected. 

I  mention  these  times  and  places  because,  besides  other 
reasons,  your  forefathers  were  for  a  considerable  period  de- 
])endent,  as  will  appear,  upon  several  of  these  adjacent 
churches  and  ministers  for  their  opportunities  to  sit  under 
the  ministrations  of  the  Gospel.  I  might  also  add  that  in 
1702,  East  Jersey,  as  its  northeastern  half  was  called,  was  be- 
lieved to  contain  about  twelve  thousand  inhabitants.  From 
all  the  information  I  have  been  able  to  gather,  it  is  not  prob- 
able that  there  were  more  than  ten  families  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Caldwell  village  prior  to  1720.  At  that  time 
the  country  was  a  dense  wilderness,  infested  with  wolves  and 
bears  and  Indians.     (Sec  Appendix  B.  B.) 

With  respect  to  the  latter,  it  may  be  said,  that  most  peo- 
})le,  perhaps,  have  an  cxageratod  notion  of  their  numbers. 
It  is  said  that  there  were  probably  over  two  thousand  in  the 
whole  of  Xew  Jersey,  in  1604.     A  century  later  there  were 


1.  The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Tuttle  (it  is  believed)  was  the  first  clergyman  settled  sit 
Parcipany.  He  was  ordained  17CS.  His  successors  were  Dr.  Darby  (a  physician 
of  bodies  as  well  as  souls,)  Kcv.  Joseph  Grovcr,  (brother  of  the  first  pastor  o' 
the  Caldwell  Church,)  Rev.  Mr.  Benedict,  Rev.  Samuel  Phelps,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Ford,  still  living,  who  was  settled  in  ISIO.  Since  Mr.  Fords  resignation  tiif 
Kiverend-  Messrs.  Sntphen,  Brown  and  Lc  Bontillier,  liavc  been  settled  there. 


10 

none  in  tliis  part  of  the  State.  The  last  one  is  known  to 
have  left  this  region  in  1761.^  Still  in  1720  it  is  quite  likely 
that,  within  the  bounds  of  Horseneck,  the  smoke  of  their  fires 
ascended  from  more  wigwams  than  log-cabins. 

For  the  next  fifty  years  no  definite  facts  as  to  the  number 
of  settlers  have  come  into  my  posession,  except  a  few  ad- 
ditional names  of  families.  I  have  no  confidence  that  the 
list  is  exhaustive,  nor  hope  of  ever  making  it  so.  It  may 
be  an  item  of  sufficient  interest  to  warrant  the  mention  of 
such  names  as  I  have  ascertained  to  have  been  scattered  all 
over  these  hills  and  valleys. 

These  were  the  Garners,  and  Philipses,  and  Sanderses  ;  the 
Spiers — both  in  Caldw^ell  and  in  Clinton  ;  the  Rights  living 
in  Livingston;  the  Cranes — both  in  Caldwell  and  Franklin, 
and  Clinton  ;  the  Goulds,  in  Yerona,  and  Caldwell,  and 
Westville  ;  the  Siscoes  or  Yan  Siscoes,  in  Franklin  and 
Fairfield ;  the  Personetts,  and  Yreelandts,  in  Cedar  Grove ; 
the  Condits  in  Yerona  Yalley ;  the  AVhiteheads.  in  Centre- 
ville ;  the  Harrisons,  and  Courters,  and  Posts,  and  Cooks, 
and  Cadmuses ;  the  Dodds,  and  Muchmores,  and  Mowrisons, 
and  Badgleys — (the  Badgleys  were  the  only  English-speak- 
ing family  in  Fairfield,)  the  Colliers,  the  Sibreys,  the  Bushes, 
the  Kiersteads,  and  the  Jacobuses;  the  Doremuses,  the  Mar- 
tins, and  the  Baldwins ;  the  Yan  Droofs,  Yan  Houtens,  and 
Williamses ;  Yan  Nesses,  Smiths,  and  Yan  Zils ;  Iletfields, 
Fdisons,  and  Wards  ;  Tompkinses,  Coreys,  Yan  Giesons,  and 
Kents  ;  the  Piersons,  the  Canfields,  the  Campbells ;  the  Ford- 
hams,  the  Wardells,  the  Bonds,  the  Byrams,  the  Bateses, 
and  the  Moores ;  the  Beaches,  the  Balls,  tlie  Mintonyeas,  tlie 
Ogdens,  the  Stagers,  the  Sindles.     If  not  all,  yet  these  con- 


1.  Authority.  Mr.  Joseph  Dorcmiis  of  Montclair.  Ilis  grandiather  Aaron 
(Jranc,  who  was  born  1751  and  died  1836,  distinctly  remembered  the  circumstan- 
ce of  "  Indian  Jolm's"  departure  for  Canada,  on  a  Sabbath  morning  when  ht 
was  ten  years  old. 


11 

btitutc  tlitj  names  ut"  the  ]arii;c  luajurity  ut'  the  settlerc'  u\>  tn 
L770. 

During  the  period  ui  tweuty-iive  years  pre\ioiis,  ueeurretl 
the  long  hiw-suit  ofthc  General  Proprietors  against  the  bulk  of 
the  settlers  for  the  recovery  of  the  lands,  on  wliieh  they  lived, 
— only  a  few  having  valid  proprietary  titles.  I  can  do  no 
more  thausini])ly  hint  at  this,  owing  to  want  of  time. 

AV^hatever  was  the  right  in  the  case — and  my  symj)athieri 
are  with  the  settlers,  though  from  all  1  have  been  able  to 
read  about  it,  my  convictions  of  legal  justice  are  rather  with 
the  proprietors — it  is  certain  that  it  was  a  vexatious  suit,^ 
and  that  many  were  thrown  out  of  the  possession  of  the 
the  whole  of  their  property,  while  others  exhausted  all  and 
more  than  all  of  the  products  of  their  labor  to  re-purchase 
of  the  proprietors,  the  land  which  they  had  already  paid  for 
and  painfully  improved. 

^Vmong  these  early  settlers  were  a  large  pro[)ortion — not,  I 
am  happy  to  believe  on  credible  testimony,  amounting  to  a 
majority  of  the  popnlation — of  evil-disposed  persons,  to  whom 
it  would  certainly  be  very  mild  to  apply  the  term  mischiev- 
ious,  for  their  mischief  was  of  a  very  serious  and  often 
wicked  and  malicious  sort.  These  paid  little  if  any  regard 
to  law,  human  or  divine.  They  regarded  the  Sabbath  but  as 
a  day  of  sports,  many  of  them  of  the  rudest  kind.  Indeed, 
horse-racing  and  cock-fighting  were  their  prevailant  kSal)bath 
pastimes.  When  a  certain  Mr.  Dean,  a  Separatist  preacher, 
probably  from  Morris  County,'-  made,  as  he  frequently  did 
make,  excursions  through  this  region  to  preach,  they  often 
treated  him  with  much  rudeness,  even  to  profanity.     They 

1.  (See  Appcmlix  C.) 

■J.  Smith's  History  of  New  .lurscy,  published  in  liO'),  nieiitions  tluit  there  were 
then  in  Morris  County,  nine  Preshytcaiau  phices  of  worship;  one  Lutheran,  one 
Anabaptist,  one  Qualcer,  one  Rogercen,  one  Separatist— a  sect  which  arose  in 
1740.    There  ^ve^c  none  jn  Essex  County  of  this  sect. 


12 

sociiicd  to  Hud  pleasure  iu  auuoyauce;  aud  succeeded  by  their 
persisteucy  in  it,  iu  uiore  than  one  instance,  in  deciding  new 
comers  not  to  remain.  In  their  intercourse  with  the  Indians, 
they  are  described  as  "corrupting  and  being  corrupted," 
"  depraved  manners  and  spiritual  degradation  being  thereby 
increased,"  And  it  is  far  from  likely  tliat  their  couHicts  with 
the  Proprietors  tended  to  cultivate  in  them  anything  better. 

But  in  forming  our  judgment  of  men  a  hundred  or  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  years  ago,  we  must  not  forget  to  con- 
trast tlie  differences  of  social  condition  then  and  now.  It  was 
not  then  the  age  of  cpiick  transit  and  universal  intelligence. 
Roads  in  any  just  sense  of  the  word,  there  were  almost  none. 
In  1752  it  required  from  five  to  seven  days  to  go  by  stage 
from  New  York  to  Philadelphia.  And  even  in  1768,  Gov, 
Franklin  speaks  of  the  thoroughfares  which  lie  between  the 
two  principal  trading  cities  in  I^ortli  America  as  "  seldom 
passible  without  danger  or  difficulty."  The  roads  in  this  sec- 
tion were  very  rough  and  bad,  and  the  streams  entirely  des- 
titute of  bridges.  It  was  a  day's  drive  to  go  to  Newark. 
No  one  thought  of  returning  on  the  same  day. 

As  to  newspapers,  the  first  one  published  in  New  Jersey 
was  the  ]Sieii:s  Jersey  Gazette,  in  1777,  by  one  Isaac  Collins  of 
I)nrlino;ton,^  Its  size  was  eight  bv  twelve  inches.  New 
York  had,  indeed,  published  them  much  earlier ;  but  with 
only  a  limited  circulation. 

It  was  far  from  uncommon  to  find  men  unable  to  write 
their  own  names.  And  men  lived  isolated,  in  rude  log  huts, 
on  mountain  paths,  by  springs  or  anywhere,  that  some  trifling 
advantage  seemed  to  present  itself.  There  were  but  few 
houses  in  this  township  that  could  keep  out  an  ordinary 
storm.     Books  were  rare  and  expensive ;  and  often,  wliere  (as 


1,  I3arber's  New  Jersey,  p.  40, 


13 

here)  hind  was  densely  covered  with  timber,  it  was  a  stru^j^lc 
to  provide  even  the  simplest  means  of  subsistence.' 

Let  ns  be  lenient  in  our  judjojnient  of  former  men  and  times, 
and  be  thankful  tliat  we  were  not  so  ill-starred  as  to  have 
been  born  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago. 

.iVbout  the  year  1770,  it  .appears  that  the  God-fearing  por- 
tion of  the  settlers,  many  of  whom  were  descended  from  de- 
votedly pious  ancestry,  gave  themselves  in  serious  attention 
to  matters  of  religion.  The  neighboring  ministers  kindly 
visited  them  from  time  to  time,  and  preached  gratuitously 
among  them  in  private  dwellings,  in  barns,^  and  often  in  the 
open  air,  as  frequently  as  they  could  without  detriment  to 
the  people  of  their  own  charges.  These  clergymen  were  the 
llev.  Dr.  Darby  of  Parcipany,  succeeded  in  1744.  by  Kev. 
Joseph  Crreen  ;  Rev.  Jacob  Green  of  Hanover,  the  liev  Jed- 
ediah  Chapman  of  Orange,  and  Rev.  James  Caldwell  of 
Elizabetlitown.  Occasionally  even  those  from  greater  dis- 
tances here  dispensed  the  bread  of  life.  This  whole  region  at 
that  time  was  regarded  as  missionary  ground,  and  the  sur- 
rounding ministers  sought  to  introduce  as  early  as  practica- 
ble, the  institutions  and  privileges  of  the  Gospel. 

The  bulk  of  the  cliureh-going  peo})le,  such  as  were  not 
Dutch,  no  doubt  attended  on  the  Sabbath  the  church  ot  Kev. 
Mr.  Chapman,  at  Orange.  Preaching  was  then  very  seldom 
enjoyed  here  on  the  Sabbath. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years  however,  meetings  came  to  be 
held  on   the  Sabbath  also;  if  the  services  of  some  minister 


1.  It  is  asserted  that  Calcl)  lletficld  owned  eleven  hundred  or  twelve  liundrcd 
acres  of  hind,  that  of  which  Wcstville  is  now  the  center,  yet  was  a  poor  man,  un- 
able to  get  grain  enough  from  his  land  to  maintain  his  family. 

'2.  Meetini^s  were  held  most  frequently  on  the  premises  of  Thomas  Gould,  now 
owned  by  Dr.  Halscy,  whose  house  was  then  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The 
road  then  went  in  directly  in  front  of  the  present  parsonage  house  and  pursued  a 
course  in  the  rear  of  all  the  houses  now  situated  on  the  east  of  the  Centreville 
road,  as  far  as  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Gould.  Upon  extraordinary  occasions 
meetings  were  held  in  Thomas  Gould's  barn. 


14 

could  nut  be  obtained,  printed  sennons  were  read,  or  the  hour 
was  spent  in  conference  and  prayer.  These  meetings  increas- 
ing in  number  and  importance,  proved  at  length  to  Ije  the 
germinating  acorn  of  which  the  enduring  oak  of  our  present 
church  and  congregation  is  the  result;  About  this  time  some 
laudable  attempts  were  made  to  erect  a  house  of  public  wor- 
ship. Timber  was  drawn,  and  in  good  part  framed  ;^  but 
hostilities  commencing  between  Gt.  Britain  and  her  Colonies, 
the  attempt  was  relinquished,  and  the  timber  became  by  ex- 
posure to  the  weather  during  the  Revolutiontjry  War,  spoiled 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  intended.  There  were  two 
school-houses  at  that  date  in  this  section,  one  at  Franklin, 
and  the  other  at  Peckmantown, — the  name  by  which  Verona 
was  then  known. 

In  the  year  1779,  (July  19th,)  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Thomas  Gould  and  others,  (among  whom  I  doubt  not  was 
the  Kev.  Mr.  Caldwell,)  the  "  Presbyterian  Congregation  of 
llorseneck,"  as  the  people  had  now  come  to  be  known,  ob- 
tained the  donation  of  a  deed  of  wild  land  lying  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  place,  amounting  to  ninety  and  a  half  acres. 
(Other  dates  on  the  Society's  records  would  go  to  show  that 
the  actual  gift  of  the  land  anticipated  the  deed  by  about  iive 
months.  The  first  entry  upon  the  parish  records  bears  date 
February  21st  j.779,  and  relates  to  the  election  of  a  "  Com- 
mittee to  represent  the  said  congregation  of  Horseneck," 
which  Committee  at  once  bought  some  meadow  "i?i  addition 
to  the iparsonacje'^  and  paid  ten  dollars,  March  1st,  for  ''''sur- 
veylng  the  ijarsonageP)     The  donors  were  CalebHetfield'^  of 

1.  Authority  of  Mr.  Jarcd  Beach,  who  had  the  fact  from  his  grandfather. 

2.  Caleb  Hctficld's  great  grand-father,  Matthias,  (who  left  New  Haven  in  lOGO, 
for  Elizabethtown,  where  he  died  in  1(587,)  gave  the  lot  of  ground  for  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  that  place.  He  had  with  other  children,  a  son  Cornelius, 
who  died  in  1718.  Cornelius  had  also  a  son  Cornelius.  This  secoad  Cornelius — 
the  father  of  Caleb — was  a  trustee  of  the  churcli  in  Elizabethtown,  as  also  an 
elder.  He  was  likewise  a  sterling  patriot.  Tlic  only  daughter  of  Caleb  by  his 
first  wife,  was  married  by  Mr.  Grover,  November  2nd,  1789,  to  Calvin  Ely  of 
Newark.    Mr.  John  Stephens,  a  merchant  of  Newark,  is  her  son-in-law. 


15 

Westville,  and  the  great  grand-sons  of  Jasper  Crane,  William 
and  Noali,^  then  residing  in  Cranetown,  as  Montclair  was  at 
that  time  called. 

The  object  of  the  gift  was  stated  in  the  deed^  to  he  in  fur- 
therance of  the  desire  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  "to 
promote  the  publick  worship  of  Almighty  God,  by  making 
decent  provision  for  the  support  of  a  minister  of  the  (irospel 
and  erecting  a  convenient  house  for  puldick  worship."  It 
may  here  be  stated  that  the  procurement  of  land,  cither  for  a 
"settlement''  for  the  minister,  or  for  revenue  in  partial  sup- 
port of  the  Gospel,  was  the  custom  of  the  time,  and  seems  to 
have  been  then  a  necessity.  In  the  same  year  the  congrega- 
tion, also  procured  at  at  trifling  cost  to  attach  to  the  parson- 
age a  little  over  fifty-two  acres  of  meadow  land,  in  the  Little 
Piece."  This  was  obtained  through  a  standing  committee  ot 
nine  persons,  which  had  been  elected  through  the  advice  of 
Mr.  Caldwell,  (who  presided  in  ])erson  at  a  meeting  held  for 
the  purpose)  to  superintend  the  interests  of  the  congregation. 
This  committee  was  composed  of  the  following  persons,  viz : 
Thomas  Gould,  Samuel  Crane,  John  Gould,  Jose])h  Har- 
rison, Joseph  Baldwin,  Henry  Van  Sisco,  Reuben  Har- 
rison, Joseph  Gould,  and  Abram  jSToc;  and  these  persons 
continued  to  compose  it  until  1797,  wdien  their  duties  were 
transferred  to  the  five  trustees,  who  had  been  elected  at  the 
time  of  the  incor])oration  of  the  church,  ten  years  before. 

The  congregation  had  as  yet  no   minister.     Having,    in 


1.  William  Crane  died  a  bachelor.  Noah  was  the  father  of  Samuel,  Estlicr, 
Joseph,  ElizaheUi,  Caleb,  Nathaniel,  Nehemiah,  (who  died  in  infancy)  Mchetable, 
Mary,  Nehemiah  and  Stephen. 

Samuel,  was  the  Hither  of  Caleli,  Zcnas,  Dorcas,  Cyrus,  Betsey,  (Canlield) 
Polly  (Harrison,)  and  Nathaniel.  Samuel's  sister,  Mehctable,  was  the  mother  ol 
(Seneral  Gould. 

Some  of  the  ninth  j^eneration  of  Jasper  Crane's  descendants  arc  livinic  in  CaM- 
well. 

•2.   (For  a  copy  of  the  deed  see  Appendix  I). ) 

?,.    This  wa^  not  cleared  until  ISOl. 


1(5 

liope  of  securing  one,  obtained  tlie  land  already  spoken  of, 
they  resolved  at  a  meeting  held  Feb.  27,  1782,.  under  the 
advice  of  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman,  who  moderated  the  assemblage, 
to  build  upon  the  parsonage  land,  a  dwelling  house  thirty  feet 
square  and  two  stories  high,  and  appointed  a  committee  to 
have  it  in  charge.  Tlie  carrying  out  of  this  design  progressed 
slowly  and  with  difficulty.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however, 
that  the  resolution  was  taken  a  j'ear  before  tlie  close  of  tlie 
Revolutionary  War,  In  Nov.  1785,  a  new  committee  was 
appointed  to  i^roceed  with  and  complete  the  building,  which, 
it  seems  was  finished  about  the  close  of  the  succeeding  year. 
This  building  is  the  eastern  half  of  the  house  where  Mr.  J, 
M.  Beach  now  lives.  Simultaneously  with  this  effort  to  build 
a  parsonage  house,  the  upper  part  of  which,  unplastered  and 
unceiled,  and  very  rudely  fitted  up  with  slab  benches  and  a 
rough  oaken  table,  served  for  a  sanctuary  until  the  early  j^art  of 
179G,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  pour  out  Ilis  Spirit  upon  tlie 
people.  Many  became  the  subjects  of  sound  and  saving  con- 
version, and  many  others  were  signally  reformed,  and  the  little 
handful  of  spiritual  worshipers  were  much  encouraged  and 
strengthend.  I  am  not  able  to  fix  the  year  of  this  revival, 
but  suppose  it  to  have  been  either  'S3  or  '84.  It  is  fair  to 
infer  that  it  hastened  the  organization  of  the  church.  The 
subject  of  organizing  here  a  church  of  Jesus  Christ  had  for  a 
considerable  time  been  one  of  much  deliberation  and  prayer 
both  on  the  part  of  the  congregation  and  neighboring  Minis- 
ters. And  doubtless  to  the  war  is  to  be  attributed  the  post- 
ponement for  a  decade  of  3'ears  both  of  the  churcirs  organi- 
zation, and  the  erection  of  a  sanctuary. 

Tlie  year  1784,  the  year  after  the  proclamation  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain,  is  memorable  for  the  formal  commencement 
of  your  ecclesiastical  existence,  (^n  the  3d  of  December  of 
this  year,  nearly  six  years  after  the  formation  of  the  Society, 
and  fourteen   veai-s  before  tlie  Bloomfield   Churcli  was  or- 


IT 


ganized,  tlie  people  conv^ened  and  after  a  sennoii  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Chapman,  Matters  Being  Previously  prepared,  A  Clnnvli 
was  Embodied  whose  Names  were  subscribed  to  the  following 
Declaration  :' 

We  Whose  Names  are  Under  writen  Living  at  the  Place 
called  Plorse  Neck,  Being  this  Day  to  be  formed  or  Embodied 
as  a  Church  of  Jems  C/wisf,  Do  Solemnly  Declare  that  as  we  d.) 
desire  to  be  founded  Only  on  the  llock  Christ  Jesus,  So  wo 
would  not  wish  to  Build  on  this  foundation,  Wood  Hay  and 
Stubble,  but  (lold  and  Silver  and  Precious  Stones;  and  as  it 
is  our  profested  Sentiments  that  a  Visible  Church  of  Christ, 
Consists  of  Visible  Believers  with  their  Children,  tio  no  Adult 
Pei'sons  Ought  to  be  Admitted  as  members  but  such  as  Credibly 
profess  True  Faith  in  Jesus  Christ,Love  Obedience  and  Subjec- 
tion to  IIim,IIolding  the  Fundameiital  Doctrines  of  the  Gospel, 
and  who  will  Solemnly  Enter  into  Covenant  to  Walk  Worthy 
such  an  Holy  Profession  as  we  do  this  Day,in  Manner  and  Form 
as  follows  :"  Then  occur  the  names  of  forty  persons,^  (the  bulk 


1.  Sec  first  page  of  Records  kept  liy  Mr.  Grovei-. 

2.  The  names  are  sjiveii  in  tlic  following;  order. 


Samuel  Crane, 
William  Gould, 
Timothy  Dodd, 
Mehetable  Gould, 
Elizabeth  Baldwin, 
Phcbe  Dodd, 
MdTj  JIuchmorc, 
.John  Badgley, 
Phebc  Crane, 
Methusalah  Baldwin, 
Mary  Pei-sonet, 
Thomas  Gould, 
Uobert  Gould, 


.loseph  Tomkins, 

John  Gould, 

Abram  Noe, 

Hannah  Noe, 

Dorcas  Gould, 

Anna  Martin, 

Sarah  Baldwin, 

Silas  Baldwin, 

Aaron  Tomkins, 

George  I'ersonet, 

Joseph  Harrison, 

Abigail  SmiUi, 

Hannah  Tomkins, 

Martha  Wheaton 
Respecting  the  twelfth  name  of  the  above  list,  Mr.  Thomas  (Jould,  I  insert  an 
obituary  notice  taken  from  the  Sentinel  of  Freedom,  on  file  in  the  Historical  J.i- 
Ijrary,  Newark— At  Caldwell,  on  the  17th  inst.  Feb.  ISIO,  Mr.  Thomas  (Jould  in 
the  'jyth  year  of  his  nge,  a  surprising  instance  ot  longevity;  for  within  a  few  days 
of  his  death  he  retained  his  bodily  and  mental  faculties  to  an  astonishing  degree, 
r-o  that  he  was  enabled  to  travel  on  Horseback  or  on  foot  lo  a  very  considerable 
distance  without  much  fatigue,  and  converse  on  almost  any  subject   without  any 


Rody  Harrison, 
Eunis  Tomkins, 
Mary  Crane, 
Martha  Speer, 
Eunis  Kierstead, 
Nathan  Ward, 
Susanna  Ward, 
Samuel  Tomkin  s, 
Martha  Tompins, 
Jacob  Gallowa, 
Rachel  Gallowa, 
Deborah  Miller, 
William  Baldwin, 


18 

of  tliem,  110  doubt,  from  the  Orange  Chnrcli,  who  enrolled 
themselves  at  once  as  members,)  together  with  the  articles 
of  their  confession  of  faith  and  covenant.^  Here  it  may  be 
proper  in  passing  to  state  that  the  original  confession  and  co- 
venant continued  to  be  used  for  fifty-one  years,  and  that  the 
last  survivor  of  the  oria;inal  members  was  General  "William 
(touM,'^  who  died  Februarj^  12th  1S47,  in  his  ninetieth  year, 
having^  served  the  church  in  the  capacity  of  Elder  for  the  re- 
markably long  period  of  sixty-three  years.     As  first  consti- 


manifest  marks  of  the  decay  of  an}'  of  his  mental  abilities'!  He  was  among  the 
first  foimders  of  tlie  Church  of  Christ  in  Caldwell,  and  whilst  in  its  infontile  state 
distinguished  himself  by  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  kingdom  of 
the  Redeemer,  through  whose  merits  we  humbly  hope  he  is  now  enjoying  the 
blessedness  of  the  saints  in  light  and  glory.  He  has  left  a  numerous  train  of 
relatives  to  lament  his  death,  being  the  progenitor  of  two  hundred  and  seven 
persons,  one  hundred  "and  sixtj'-eight  of  whom  are  now  living.  He  was  blessed 
while  living  with  the  joyful  sight  of  twenty  of  his  descendants  of  the  fifth  genera- 
tion. 

1 .  See  Appendix  E. 

2.  General  Gould  was  a  native  of  Caldwell.  During  the  Revolution  he  was 
frequently  in  active  service  in  defence  of  his  country.  He  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Springfield  and  Monmouth.  In  17Si4,  was  with  General  Lee  in  his  expe- 
dition against  the  "whiskey  insurgents."  He  served  from  1S05-S  in  the  State 
Legislature-  As  an  officer  of  the  militia,  and  in  civil  life,  he  held  for  many  years  a 
prominent  place,  and  in  every  capacity  in  which  he  was  called  to  serve,  he  proved 
himself  worthy  of  the  respect  and  confidence  of  men.  He  was  a  man  of  unques- 
tionable integrity  and  remarkable  activity  and  efficiency.  In  all  the  relations  of 
life  in  which  he  stood,  he  was  an  honor  to  religion  aud  humanity.  In  the  chiirch 
of  which  he  was  so  long  a  chief  pillar,  he  was  a '  bright  and  shining  light" — ever 
ready  to  engage  with  promptitude  and  energy  in  every  "  work  of  faith  and  labor 
of  love." 

Two  days  before  his  death  he  said  to  his  pastor:  "Sir,  I  am  a  verv  unworthy 
sinner  If  I  should  be  called  ui^on  to  answer  for  one  of  the  thousand  of  my  iniqui- 
ties, I  should  be  forever  undone.  I  see  the  necessity  of  the  great  atoning  sacrifice 
as  I  never  saw  it  before.  In  Christ  Jesus  is  my  only  hope.  "When  I  look  at  my- 
self and  think  how  unworthy  I  am,  I  am  sometimes  doubtful  and  afraid.  But 
when  I  look  upon  Christ  and  remark,  that  7ie  came  into  the  tvorld  to  save  sinners 
who  put  their  trust  in  him,  I  am  ready  to  say,  though  1  go  down  into  t'je  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evilP''  (From  an  obituary  notice  bj*  Rev.  S. 
L.  Tuttle,  intheiVe?';  York  Observer,  March  lSi7 .)  On  his  monument,  standing 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  church,  is  the  following:  "  In  his  manner  he  was 
dignified  and  courteous  ;  amiable  and  tender  in  his  disposition,  and  industriousjn 
his  habits.  His  character  was  irreproachable,  and  as  remarkable  for  devotion  to 
his  country,  as  for  integrity  in  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  ;  a  genuine  patriot,  a 
useful  citizen,  a  true  christian.  The  memory  of  his  virtues  will  hmo-  be  a  pre- 
cious inheritance  to  his  numerous  descendants. 


19 

tilted  the  ohiu'cli  was  rrofebytcriaii,  and  proceeded  at  once  to 
the  election  of  Elders  and  DeacoiL^,  when  the  followin"-  six 
individuals,  (a  large  number  for  so  small  a  church)  -were  clio- 
seji  to  Avit:  (George  Personet,  Joseph  Harrison,  Aaron 
Tomkins.  and  AVilliani  Gould,  to  the  office  of  Elder ;  and 
Samuel  Crane  and  Silas  l^aldwin,  to  the  conjoint  offices  of 
Deacon  and  Elder. 

Tliis  birth-year  of  the  church,  (the  year  that  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  was  adopted,  which  contin- 
ued in  force  for  sixty  years)  was  a  most  memorable  one  for 
the  church  to  which  this  is  linked  by  more  ties  than  one,  viz, 
the  first  church  in  Newark,  then  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
years  old.  During  this  year  began  ''a  very  great  and  lasting 
revival  of  religion  in  that  congregation."^  "surpai^sing  in  the 
cftusion  of  divine  influences  experienced  all  that  went  before 
it,  or  has  since  followed  it.  The  religions  declension  every- 
where incident  npon  the  war  was  especially  felt  to  be  great 
in  that  congregation.  As  a  result  of  this  revival,  however, 
the  whole  lace  of  society  was  entirely  changed,  .^nd  more 
than  one  hundred  souls  were  added  to  the  church.  But  it 
was  not  so  much  the  number  of  the  converts  as  the  deep  and 
universal  influence  of  the  heavenly  impulse,  among  a  i)eo])lc 
comparatively  few,  that  gave  distinction  to  this  remarka- 
ble effusion  of  the  Divine  Spirit." 

It  is  hardly  supposable,  (though  owing  to  loss  of  records, 
nothing  is  certainly  known,)  that  the  Orange  church  did  not 
share  in  that  refreshing.  Xor  can  we  doubt  that  its  influence 
reached  up  and  affected  for  good  this  new  church  enterprise — 
especially  as  it  is  known  that  Mr.  Chapnum  was  often  and 
very  naturally,  at  that  time  among  the  people  here,  and  Dr. 
McWhorter  himself,  is  said  to  have  visited  them. 

Among  the  names  of  tlK)sc  who  ])reachcd  here  and  admin- 


I.  Stearns's  XewaiU,  i^).  '.'n,21-2,  240. 


20 

istered  the  ordinances  of  Baptism  and  Lord's  Supper,  the 
during  the  interval  of  three  years  from  the  organization  of 
the  ehurcli  to  the  settlement  of  its  first  pastor,  I  find  besides 
Mr.  Green  and  Mr.  Chapman,  the  names  of  Rev.  Joseph 
(Tover  of  Parcipany,  a  Mr.  Jones,  (perhaps  Dr.  Jones  of 
Morristown,)  a  Mr.  David  Baldwin,  a  Mr.  Miller,  a  Mr. 
.lohn  Townley,  and  a  Mr.  Shepherd. 

Mr.  Shepherd  was  the  tirst  stated  minister  employed  here. 
He  was  a  young  man  possessed  of  a  lively  imagination,  and 
good  natural  parts,  and  came  from  New  England.  lie 
j)reached  his  tirst  sermon  here  about  a  fortnight  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church,  and  Avas  desirous  to  become  its  sta- 
ted pastor ;  but  owing  to  the  lack  of  unanimit}^  in  tlie  peo 
pie  in  their  attempts  to  settle  him — a  lack  occasioned  by  the 
objectionable  manner  in  which  he  put  forth  his  views  respect, 
ing  church  government,  after  a  stay  of  six  months  he  de- 
parted— an  event  which  subsequent  occurences  in  his  his- 
tory ai'e  said  to  have  proved  to  be  a  very  kind  Providence. 
Jle  was  a  ver}^  decided  Congregation alist,  and  may  have  had 
a  part  in  bringing  about  the  change  in  the  form  of  govern- 
ment of  the  church.  In  October  of  1785,  ten  months  after 
the  organization  of  the  church,  the  congregation  formally 
adopted  the  Congregational  form  of  government,  and  under 
this  form  passed  the  first  forty-six  years  of  its  existence  ;  viz, 
until  April  25th,  1831,  when  it  became  Presbyterian  again, 
and  connected  itself  with  the  Presbytery  of  J^ewark,  of  which 
it  still  forms  apart.  This  is  a  convenient  place  to  note  in 
passing,  that  when  the  Bloomfield  church  in  jS'ovember  1812, 
formally  re-adopted  the  Presbyterian  form  of  cliurcli  gov- 
ernment, after  a  brief  trial  of  Congregationalism  under  Hev. 
Abel  Jackson,  some  opposition  was  manifested,  and  ten  of 
the  members  of  that  church  withdrew  and  connected  them- 
selves with  the  Caldwell  clmrch.  Among  these 'w^as  Deacon 
Oliver  Crane. 


21 

On  the  iOtli  of  Fcbnuirv  17S7,  tliu  Society  resolved  to 
change  the  name  of  Ilorseneck  for  that  of  Cakhvell,  in  lionor 
of  the  minister  of  that  name  already  mentioned.  By  his  nni- 
form  and  paternal  kindness,  his  fre([U8nt  connsel  and  assist- 
tance,  not  less  than  by  his  (.'minent  patriotism,  he  had  Avon 
the  hearts  of  the  people.  In  addition  to  this  their  sym- 
pathies had  already  been  touched  by  his  brutal  murder,  and 
that  (»f  his  noble  wife  ;  in  casting  about  for  a  better  name  for 
their  village,  it  was  only  natural  to  adopt  that  of  tliis 
distinguished  "  fighting  parson.'-  The  name  at  first  api)lied 
oidy  to  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  ;  eleven  years  later  it 
was  given  to  the  Township). 

Tt  is  a  singular  fact,  not  a  little  inconsistent  with  tiie  de- 
clared preference  of  the  church  for  Congregationalism,  that 
it  should  at  its  incorporation,  the  time  its  new  name  was 
adopted,  ]»ublisli  itself  "to  be  known  thereafter  by  the  name 
and  style  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Caldwell." 
It  is  true  the  church  shortly  after  this  connected  itself  with 
the  Moi'ris  County  Presbytery,  and  it  had  ])erhaps  as  much 
right  to  denominate  itsc'f  Presbyterian  as  that  Presbytery 
had ;  but,  I  think,  no  more.  That  Presbytery  was  a  seces- 
sion from  pure  Presbyterianism.  "  Tt  was  based  mainly  on 
the  principle  of  the  independency  of  the  local  church  ;  al- 
though combined  with  this  was  the  assumption,  that  the 
power  of  ordination  was  vested,  not  in  the  church,  l)ut  in  the 
Presbytery.'" 

It  originated  in  ITS",  with  iiev.  dacol)  Green,  was  mainly 
confined  to  Morris  County,  and  was  dead  in  less  than  lifty 
years.-  It  must  have  expired  some  time  l)efore  this  chun-h 
joined  the  Presbytery  of  Newark, 


I.  (;ilk'tl's  History  of  the  Piesbyteriiin  Chureli,  vol.  i,  p.  'Jo7. 

'_'.  It  orij(iiuitc(l  the  still  extant  Morris  County  Society,  lor  the  promotion  of 
Leurninjx  and  Religion.  From  some  aeeounts  of  this  society  kept  by  Gen.  Gould, 
I  tind  the  interestinj^  statement  that  Mr.  Grover  reeeived  from  this  soeieiy  a  loan 
of  forty-five  dollars,  with  which  to  finish  his  college  course  at  Dartmouth. 


22 


It  bhould  liuvu  been  stated  that  about  the  time  of  the 
chureh's  organization,  the  Society  erected  a  lay  school-house  in 
the  open  space  ininiediatelj  opposite  the  present  school-house. 
It  fronted  south,  being  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  which 
then  ran  near  the  brook  wliich  flows  tlirough  the  premi- 
ses of  Mr.  Provost.  In  this  house  many  of  the  meetings  were 
hekl  until  the  upper  room  of  tlie  ])arsonage  was  fitted  \\\)  for 
worship. 

On  the  third  of  August  1787, — six  weeks  before  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Constitution  of  tlie  United  States — the  congrega- 
tion having  occasionally  heard  as  candidate  during  the  pre- 
vious seven  months,  the  Rev.  Stephen  Grover,^  a  native  of 
Tolland,  Connecticut,  and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College, 
who  had  just  completed  his  theological  studies  with  his 
brother.  Rev.  Joseph  Grover,  of  Parcipany,  determined  to 
"give  him  a  call  for  settlement  in  the  ministry  in  this  place." 
The  salary,  besides  a  settlement  to  begin  with  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven  dollars,  and  the  use  of  a  large  part  of 
the  land,  and  his  fire- wood,'  was  to  be  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  a  year,  with  an  annual  increase  of  ten  dollars  until  it 
should  amount  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  If  these 
figures  seem  small,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  price  of 
a  days  labor  was  three  shillings  and  sixpence,  and  that  not 
many  years  before,  beef  cost  but  two  cents  a  pound — as  late 
as  1833,  it  had  not  exceeded  four  or  five  cents  a  pound.  The 
call  having  been  acce^ited  by  Mr.  Grover,   he  was  on  J  uly 


1.  From  a  memorandum  of  Mr.  Grovcr's,  it  appears  that  he  preached  his  first 
sermon  from  Lulve  13:5,  at  Colouel  Payne's,  Lebanon,  October  15th  1780,  being 
twenty-eight  years  old.  He  first  preached  liere  on  tlie  Sabbath  of  January  7th 
1787,  from  Matthew  (5:33  and  John  8:3G,  being  his  twenty-eighth  and  twenty- 
ninth  sermons. 

2.  During  the  most  of  Mr.  Grovcr's  ministry  the  practice  of  "  wood-getting" 
was  an  established  yearly  custom  in  the  congregation.  It  was  a  gala  day,  and 
hailed  with  pleasure  by  all.  Wood  enough  was  usually  drawn  to  the  parsonage  to 
last  through  the  year.  A  generous  supper  provided  by  the  congregation  al- 
ways succeeded  the  day's  labor,  nature's  supply  of  drink  being  amply  supple- 
mented by  cider  and  rum. 


23 

23d  of  the  following  year — the  year  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  held,  in  Philadelphia,  its  first  annual  meeting — so- 
lemnly ordained  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  took  the  ])as- 
toral  charge  of  this  people,  who  were  thus  at  length  con- 
firmed in  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  stated  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel.^  From  the  formation  of  the  church  to  the  installa- 
tion of  Mr.  Grover,  the  church  had  been  increased  in  nu- 
merical strength  l)y  the  reception  often  or  twelve  new  mem- 
bers— the  first  two,  named  Phoda  and  Hannah  C'orby,  having 
been  received  the  second  Sabbath  after  the  organization. 
Soon  after  coming  here  Mr.  Grover  occupied  the  lower  por- 
tioii  of  the  parsonage,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  1818, 
when  he  built  his  own  house  just  opj)Osite  the  church,  in 
which  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  daj'S.^ 

This  is  the  proper  place  from  its  date  to  notice  the  estal)- 
lishment  of  a  village  librarj-.  On  the  28th  of  January  178S>, 
the  congregation  resolved  upon  this  action  and  appointed  Pev. 
Mr.  Grover,  Dr.  Cyrus  Pierson,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Gould,  jr.,  a 
committee,  to  procure  books  and  make  all  necessary  regula- 
tions respecting  them.  A  very  respectable  library  was 
obtained  and  opened  for  the  use  of  the  congregation.  It  was 
always  kept  in  the  village  near  the  church.  It  was  a  stock 
concern,  owned  by  the  members  of  the  congregation.  It 
happened  to  be  in  the  hands  of  Deacon  William  G.  Grano. 
when  it  ceased  to  secure  the  interest  of  the  community. 

Under  Mr.  Grover 's  labor,  though  no  great  awakening  oc- 


1.  The  .■icnices  of  ordinatioa  and  installation,  were  held  in  the  upper  room  ol 
the  iiarsonagc-housc,  Rev.  .Tacob  Green  was  moderator;  Rev.  .Joseph  Grover, 
preached  the  sermon  ;  Rev.  Jebediah  Chapman  gave  the  charge  of  office;  Rev. 
David  Baldwin  and  John  Townlcy,  also  assisted  in  the  ceremonies. 

•J.  Mr.  Grover  chose  to  have  liis  own  house,  and  the  parish  thought  it  better 
for  their  interests  that  he  should.  He  therefore  boiight  thirteen  acres  of  land 
and  built  for  himself;  the  parish  agreeing  on  a  new  basis  of  settlomont  with  him, 
vi/.:  the  vearlv  «ahirv  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 


24 

ciirred  for  eight  or  nine  years,  considerable  additions  to  the 
number  of  sixty-eight,  were  made  from  time  to  time,  to  the 
communion  of  the  church  ;  wliile  the  regular  and  faithful 
ministrations  of  the  Gospel  and  its  ordinances,  produced  a 
decidedly  happ}-  reformation  in  general  manners  and  morals. 

It  soon  became  evident  tliat  tlie  upper-room  meeting-honse 
was  entirely  too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  tlie  people, 
and  the  question  of  a  suitable  Sanctuary  came  np  for  con- 
sideration. At  tlie  annual  meeting,  January  15th,  1792,^ 
Mr.  Grover  preached  a  sermon  on  tlie  importance  and  duty 
of  bnilding  a  chnrch,  taking  for  his  text  Hag.  1:1 — 9,  Tliis 
awakened  a  vigorons  and  nnited  resolution  in  the  minds  of 
the  people  to  rise  and  buihl.  At  first  it  was  decided  to  con- 
strnct  an  edifice  of  brick ;  but  finally  determined  to  be  more 
for  the  interests  of  the  people  to  erect  it  of  wood.  It  was  re- 
solved to  obtain,  before  commencing  to  build,  subscriptions 
to  the  amount  of  twelve  hundred  ponnds,  or  a  ponnd  being 
twenty  shillings,  (New-York  currency)  about  tlirce  thousand 
dollars. 

To  men  of  their  few  numbers,  and  limited  means,  this 
large  sum  must  have  worn  a  truly  formidable  look.  It  was 
certainly  evidence  of  their  thonghtfulness  and  forecast.  I 
am  not  surprised  that  the  amount  was  soon  found  to  be  be- 
yond their  possibilities.  After  mature  deliberation  and 
prayer,  committees  were  appointed  to  go  abroad  and  solicit 
aid  from  contiguous  parishes.  Among  these  are  mentioned 
Morristown,  Boontown,  Acquackanonek,  Connecticut  Farms, 
Hanover,  Second  River,  (or  Belleville,)  New-York,  Orange, 
Newark,  EllzabetlitoWn,  and  Little  Ferr3\  A  considerable 
additional  amount  having*  been  thus  secured,  the  work  of  erec- 
tion was  at  once   proceeded  with.'      In  the  early  Spring  of 


1.    Tlie  Fiipt  Presbyteiiun  Church   ol"   Newark,  was   (leclicated  the  previous 
yenr. 

'2.  The  inaiiii,2;ors  in  the  buiklins?  were   Zadoc   Baldwin,    Cyrus  Pierson,    and 
Zenas  Crane. 


25 

1708,  tlic  timber  having  been  ah*eady  hewed  where  it  was  fel- 
led, was  drawn  from  the  forests,  free  permission  having  been 
given  to  select  anywhere  the  best  that  conld  be  found.  The 
young  pastor  evinced  his  zeal  in  the  work,  not  only  by  a  gener- 
ous subscription,  but  also  hy  donning  the  laborer's  garb,  and  in 
common  with  the  rest,  hauling  the  hewn  logs  with  his  team 
of  oxen.  It  is  said  there  were  few  in  this  whole  townshi]i 
who  did  not  lend  a  helping  hand  in  the  good  M'ork.  In  the 
month  of  June,  the  same  year,  the  frame^  of  the  house  in 
which  we  are  to-day  assembled,  was  raised.  The  joyful 
shouts  of  the  people,  on  that  n'lemorable  day  were  mingled 
with  lamentations  in  the  pastor's  house  over  the  death  of  his 
lirst-born  son. 

During  the  Summer  and  Fall  the  building  was  enclosed 
and  so  left  for  the  Winter. 

Scantiness  of  means^  in  the  following  year  prevented  the 
]n-osecution  of  the  work;  but  in  the  Spring  of  1795,  further 
funds  having  been  obtained,  it  was  decided  to  push  it  forwai-d 
to  com])letion.  The  subserpient  Fall  and  Winter  saw  the 
building  completed"'  with  the  exception  of  the  steeple.  This 
was  not  finished  until  18ul,  when  the  house  was  first  painted. 
The  general  appearance  of  the  church  was  as  follows  :  The 
outer  doors  opened  directly  into  the  place  of  worship).  There 
was  then  lU)  vestibule  to  the  church.  The  ascent  of  the  stairs 
was  exposed  to  the  view  of  all  the  congregation.     Where  the 


1.  It  required  forty  men  several  days  to  do  this  work.  They  ate  and  slept 
meanwliile  in  the  school-house.  Captain  Robert  Gould  was  the  head  carpen- 
t.-r. 

■J.  A  Lottery  was  resorted  to,  to  raise  funds.  This  was  notanuiiconunon  tliini? 
ill  those  days  in  the  interest  of  cinirch  erection.  In  this  instance  it  failed  of  il.s 
design. 

".  As  a  specimen  of  tlie  greater  obstacles  to  be  overcome  in  tiiose  days,  was 
tlie  method  of  procurinff  lime.  On  an  appointed  day  (Auojust  I7th  1795,)  a  large 
number  of  teams  went  down  to  Bergeu  after  shells,  with  wliich  they  returned  on 
the  tliird  or  fourth  day  after.  Sufllcient  wood  was  drawn  to  the  open  space  by  the 
church,  at  15  shillings  per  cord,  to  construct  a  kiln,  and  there  tlie  shells  wen- 
converted  into  lime. 


26 

pulpit  now  stands,  though  several  feet  higher,  was  the  ros- 
trum, about  the  size  of  a  hogshead,  hoisted  up  on  a  single 
pillar,  and  fastened  against  the  wall.  It  was  very  much 
covered  with  moulding  and  fancy  work.  Directly  over  it 
was  suspended  a  curiously-wrought  sounding-board.  Just 
l»elow  the  pulpit  a  large  square  pew  was  built,  in  which  it 
Avas  the  practice  of  the  Elders  and  Deacons  to  sit  on  Salj- 
bath. 

The  ceiling  was  about  eight  feet  higher  than  it  now  is,  and 
was  arched  over  in  the  center  very  nearly  to  the  peak  of  the 
roof,  and  made  to  support  itself  by  being  framed  into  the 
rafters.  In  the  east,  or  singers'  gallery,  Avere  three  entirely 
distinct  arches,  opening  only  towards  the  jnilpit.  The  mid- 
dle of  these  was  occupied  by  the  singers,  while  on  one  side 
sat  the  colored  males,  and  on  the  other  the  colored  females. 
(There  were,  let  it  be  remembered,  a'considerable  numl)erof 
of  slaA'es  owned  by  the  early  settlers  of  this  region.) 

The  breast-work  of  the  gallery  Avas  A^ery  high,  formed  of 
large  and  A'ery  long  panels.  The  AvindoAVs  Avere  not  pro- 
tected either  by  blinds  or  curtains  of  any  kind.  Xothing 
Avithin  or  Avithout  the  church  had  a  touch  of  paint  except  the 
.pulpit.  The  floors  Avere  innocent  of  carpets,  and  the  breatli- 
reA'ealing  air  Avas  never  rarified  by  either  of  those  modei'ii 
agencies,  stoves  or  furnaces.  The  backs  of  the  pcAvs  Avere 
exactly  perpendicular,  and  nearly  as  high  as  the  back  of  the 
occupant's  neck,  and  the  discomfort  of  sitting  in  them  Avas  in- 
creased by  a  top-moulding,  projecting  several  inches  forwards.- 
In  those  Puritan  days  it  evidently  Avas  not  the  intention  of 
church  builders  to  make  proA'ision  for  sleepy  Avorshipers. 

On  Wednesda}',  the  6th  of  April,  ITOO,  four  years  before 
the  church  in  Bloomfield  Avas  completed^  this  house  Avas  for- 
mally dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  the  congregation 
meeting  in  it  for  this  purpose,  for  the  flrst  time.  x\n  im- 
mense asscmbh"  Avas  convened,  tlie   chnrch  beino-  fllU^d   to 


27 

overflowing.  A  coiiipany  of  singers  from  JJlooinliekl, 
whore  Mr.  G rover  occasionally  preached,  was  present,  and 
assisted  in  the  praises  of  the  occasion,^  and  a  large  number  of 
strangers  were  drawn  hither  to  the  interesting  services.  The 
Pastor  preached  an  appropriate  dedicatory  sermon  from 
eighth  verse  of  132nd  Psalm  : 

Arise,  0  Lord,  into  thy  rest;  thou,  and  the  ark  ot'tliy  strength.'' 

All  who  were  present  agreed  in  their  description  of  the 
extraordinary  interest  of  the  scene.  It  w' as  a  day  the  happy 
and  powerful  inliuence  of  which,  has  never  yet  been  lost 
upon  the  congregation.  Great  were  the  desires  of  the  peo- 
ple that  day  breathed  forth,  that  this  house  might  be  the 
birth-})lace  of  souls.  How  signally  have  those  fervent  long- 
ings been  answered  I  Just  after  the  dedication,  as  the  pastor 
was  conversing  in  the  evening  with  his  wife  upon  the  favor- 
ableness  of  the  time  for  a  revival  or  religion,  they  heard  the 
shutting  of  the  parsonage  gate,  and  a  timorous  knock  ii[)un 
the  door  followed,  wdiicli  proved  to  be  that  of  an  anxious 
soul,  come  to  talk  about  his  eternal  interests.  In  a  short 
time  after,  to  use  the  words  of  the  pastor,  '•  the  Lord  cov- 
ered the  house  and  its  btiilders,  together  with  their  offspring, 
under  the  shadow  of  his  wings.  In  June  following,  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  begin  a  glorious  work  of  grace.  Seri- 
ousness appeared  among  the  people  in  general,  and  several 
persons  were  struck  under  great  convictions  and  concern 
al)out  their  souls,  aiul  became  hopefully  converted.  These 
a[ipeared  like  the  first  droppings  before  a  mighty  shower. 
In  fliilv  and  Auo-ust  the  concern  became  •••eneral   in   the  con- 


1.  Tlie  I'salinb  sung  were  the  102nd,  1st  part,  L.M. 

"Where  shall  we  ro  to  seek  and  lind 

Au  habitation  for  our  (io([.'" -^Tmic,  Civil  .Vnmsenient, 
Psalm  122,  Sd  Part,  S.  P.  M. 

"  How  pleased  and  blessed  was  1." — 2'uiie,  Amity. 
Psalm  OOd,  C.  -M. 

"Early  my  God  without  delay." — Tunc,  Monti^omery. 
The  ehapter  read  was  I.  Kini^s,  8. 


28 

gregatioii.  All  classes  were  affected,  and  all  nieetiiigs  among 
the  youth  were  turned  into  solemn  meetings  for  prayer.'' 
"My  house,"  adds  Mr.  Grover,  "instead  of  the  taveni  was 
resorted  to,  and  inquiring  souls  truly  flocked  around  this 
house  of  the  Lord,  as  doves  flock  to  their  windows  before  a 
rising  storm.  Some  bowed  down  under  the  deepest  sense  of 
their  guilt  and  misery,  and  others  rejoiced  in  redeeming  love. 
In  September  the  work  seemed  like  a  mighty  torrent  and  to 
bear  down  all  before  it.  As  for  those  who  were  not  deeply 
afl'ected,  their  mouths  were  mostly  stopped.  It  appeared  ac- 
cording to  the  best  calculation,  that  for  about  six  weeks 
three  souls  a  day  were  brought  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord.  As  a 
result  of  this  revival,  at  the  connnunion  in  October,  ninety- 
live  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church — all  of  whom  had 
hopefully  experienced  a  work  of  grace  upon  their  hearts, 
since  the  previous  communion  in  July,  thirty-two  of  whom 
M'cre  baptized.  The  following  January,  (1797)  forty-six  more 
were  added  as  the  fruit  of  the  continued  revival ;  and  for 
several  successive  communions  large  accessions  were  made  to 
tlie  church.  These  things  done  for  our  Zion  in  the  days  of 
her  espousals,  were  jioised  abroad,  and  drew  manj' from  a  dis- 
tance all  around,  to  behold  the  wonders  of  redeeming  love  ; 
soHJe  to  rejoice,  and  some  to  speculate;  but  many  were  woun- 
ded by  the  way,  and  returned  with  bleeding  hearts.^"  At  the 
time  of  the  dedication,  the  number  of  church  members  Avas 
one  hundred  and  eighteen.  By  the  close  of  1707,  there  were 
probably  over  three  hundred.  From  this  time  the  church  ha- 
came  one  of  the  most  important  and  influential  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  and  has  continued  to  enjoy  at  irregular  in- 
tervals, from  that  time  to  the  present,  very  marked  mani- 
festations of  the  special  blessings  of  God. 

The  bounds  of  the  congregation  (for  English  settlers)  exton- 


1.  From  a  thanksgiving  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Grover,  December  0th  1797, 
froml.  Sam'17:12. 


29 

ded  to  Fuirlicld  and  Little  Falh  uii  the  iiurtli,  Wcst-illuuiii- 
iicld  on  the  east,  Nortlifield  on  the  south,  and  Tine  Brook  on 
tlie  west ;  and  it  enihraced  most  of  the  people  residing  Avitliin 
this  circumference. 

During  the  following  eight  years  the  church  received  se\-- 
enty  additional  persons  upon  profession  of  their  faith,  twentv 
being  received  at  one  time,  in  1803,  besides  a  very  consider- 
erable  number  by  letter. 

In  the  course  of  the  Winter  of  1805-6,  tlie  church  was 
again  most  poM'crfully  revived,  the  effusions  of  the  Spirit 
excelling  in  })ower  and  fruitful  results  the  precious  revival  of 
1  T9t)-7.  It  Avas  a  time  of  very  deep  convictions  of  sin.  The 
church  became  crowded  with  anxious  and  incpiiring  souls, 
and  very  many  were  li023efully  converted  to  God. 

The  ingathering  in  the  following  June,  from  this  harvest, 
amountedto  one  hundred  ami  fifty-two  souls;  of  whom,  so 
far  as  I  know,  the  only  survivors  are  Ilev.  Abner  Brundage, 
now  living  in  Montclair,  nearly  eighty-two  years  old,  and 
Mr.  Ct,  p.  Martin,  still  Avith  us  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  and 
in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  Eldership.  The  scene  connected 
with  the  admission  of  this  great  number  is  spoken  of  as  one 
of  very  great  interest  and  solemnity.  So  crowded  was  the 
church  that  the  aisles  wercoccnipied,  and  the  candidates  were 
obliged  to  rise  at  their  seats  throughout  the  houst*,  and  in 
this  Avay  assume  their  covenant  obligations.  A  throng  of 
spectators  witnessed  from  the  gallery  the  solemn  and  aflecting 
scene,  and  very  many  persons  were  present  from  abroad.  (A 
helpful  mnemonic  for  this  year  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  it 
was  the  year  18<>6  that  Fulton's  steam  vessel  made  its  ap- 
pearance.) From  tliis  time  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years  the 
church  Avas  usually  very  much  croAvdcd  on  the  Sabbath.  It 
Avas  with  difficulty,  oftentimes,  that  the  congregation,  in  fair 
Aveather,  could  be  comfortably  seated. 

As  other  churches  in  the  toAvnship  came  to  be  organized  and 


30 

possessed  of  houses  of  worship,  this  church  was  of  course  re- 
lieved. 

The  Methodist  cliurcli  in  Clintou,  was  organized  in  1822 — 
taking  several  members  from  this  chnrch.  Two  years  later 
their  house  of  w^orship,  as  also  that  of  Centreville,  was 
built. 

The  church  at  Pine  Brook  was  organized  about  1830,  and 
held  services?  for  a  long  time  in  the  school-honse.  Their 
church  was  built  1814.  The  church  in  Yerona  was  organized 
February  1833,  and  in  the  Summer  of  1834,  dedicated  their 
house  of  worship.  In  1838,  the  West  Bloomficld  churcli  was 
organized,  which  also  had  a  few  members  from  our  roll. 
The  Baptist  church  in  Caldwell  is  about  twenty  years  old. 

In  the  Spring  of  1814,  the  Lord  graciously  remembered 
this  branch  of  his  Zion  again,  and  in  July  following,  sixty- 
oiie  })ersons  made  a  public  profession  of  their  fiiith  in  Christ. 
Among  these  were  Mr.  Joseph  Personett,  still  living  in  his 
eighty-lifth  year,  and  Mr.  Jared  F.  Harrison,  for  thirty-one 
years  an  honored  Elder  in  this  church,  who  died  eight  years 
ago  last  July.  It  was  during  this  time  that  the  second  war 
with  Great  Britain  occurred.  From  the  Sentinel  of  Freedom, 
for  September  13th  1814,  I  find  the  statement  that  when,  at 
this  time,  three  thousand  Jersey  Blues  assembled  at  Paulus 
Hook — as  Jersey  City  was  then  called — to  repel  British  inva- 
sion, Ilev.  Stephen  Grover  of  Caldwell,  is  mentioned  as  their 
Chaplain. 

During  the  six  following  years,  sixty-three  additional 
names  were  placed  upon  the  roll  of  the  Church.  On  the  1st 
of  January  1816,^  the  society  made  its  first  movement  to- 
wards selling  the  seats  at  auction,  in  order  to  raise  the  sal- 
ary.    This  met  with  strenuous  opposition  at  first,  but  at  length 


1.  During  this  year,  as  showu  from  an  old  account-book  Icept  by  Mr.  Cyrus 
Crane,  a  large  number  of  Bibles  was  distributed  by  the  Westville  Bible  and  Tract 
Society. 


ni 

on  the  1st  of  January  1  SIT,  it  was  carried.  Two  years  af- 
terwards, tliis  plan  was  defeated,  but  returned  to  in  the  fol- 
lowing ysar,  from  which  time  it  is  believed  fo  have  been  the 
prevalent  practice.  In  January  1822,  the  vestibule  was  ])ar- 
titioned  off  as  it  now  appears,  and  the  ceiliug,  which  had 
begun  to  sj)read,  was  supported  by  columns,  restiug  on  the 
ground  floor — an  arrangement  which  added  nothing  to  the 
ai'chitectural  eflect  of  the  interior  of  the  church. 

Sometime  during  the  year  1823,  the  congregation  sold  the 
original  parsonage  house  and  lot  to  Mr.  Calvin  S.  Crane. 
By  him  it  was  enlarged  and  occupied  as  a  boarding-school, 
until  the  year  of  his  death,  in  1837.  His  school  became  one 
of  the  most  popular  in  the  State,  and  at  one  time  contained 
upwards  of  about  fifty  boarding-scholars,  besides  several  day 
scholars. 

The  Parish  appropriated  the  north  gallery  of  the  church 
to  Mr.  Crane's  school,  which  no  doubt  accounts  for  the  fact 
that  it  has  been  less  freely  occupied  than  the  opposite  one. 
Mr.  Crane's  premises  were  not  again  used  for  school  purposes 
until  1843,  when  they  were  rented  to  Rev.  Brown  Emerson, 
of  Torringford,  Connecticut;  who  occupied  them  until  181:7, 
when  they  were  purchased  by  Dr.  Maynard,  for  a  ]irivate 
residence.  Mr.  Emerson,  on  leaving  here,  removed  his  s(^li(>(i] 
to  Belleville. 

During  the  Spring  and  Summer  of  ISS.'),  the  church  was 
blessed  with  the  experience  of  another  revival,the  fruit  of  which 
among  the  hitherto  impenitent  was  the  ingathering  of  thirty- 
three  of  their  number  into  the  communion  of  the  cburch. 
Stoves  were  first  introduced  into  the  church  in  the  Winter  of 
1828.  It  is  hard  for  us,  accustomed  to  comfort  as  we  are,  to 
realize  how,  for  thirty-t\v<»  winters,  our  ancestors  crmld  huvc 
worshiped  God   with  profit,  without  artificial  heat. 

In  the  year  1828 — owing  to  the  advanced  age  of  Mr.  (inv 
ver — the  congreijation  obtained  as  colleague  or  assistant,  the 


85 

Rev.  Robert  B,  Caufield,  a  recent  graduate  of  Auburn  Tlie- 
ological  Seminary,  and  licentiate  of  Cayuga  Presbytery.  He 
entered  upon  liis  labors  in  July  1S28,  only  remaining,  how- 
ever, for  the  period  of  six  months,  when  he  left  to  accept  an- 
other field  of  labor.^ 

On  the  1st  of  January  1830,  the  labors  of  Mr.  Grover, 
proving  too  severe  for  his  increasing  infirmities,  the  congre- 
gation decided  to  settle  a  stated  colleague. 

On  the  17th  of  May  1830,  Rev.  Baker  Johnson,  a  native 
of  Littleton,  New  Jersey,  and  a  recent  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Newark,  was  heard  as  a  candidate,  and  in  January 
1831,  having  labored  here  meanwhile,  he  was  unanimously 
called  to  a  permanent  settlement  over  the  church.  He  ac 
cepted  the  call  on  condition,  that  in  addition  to  his  salary, 
(four  hundred  dollars)  he  should  be  furnished  witli  a  dwelling- 
house,  and  was  soon  after  ordained  and  installed  as  the  co- 
pastor  with  Mr.  Grover. 

The  present  parsonage-house  was  begun  this  year  and  com- 
pleted in  the  Spring  of  1832,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars.  It  was  immediately  tliereafter  occupied  by  Mr, 
Johnson."^ 


•  1.  Mr.  Cantield,  informs  the  writer,  that  in  August  1826,  after  laboring  in  a  re- 
vival in  Springfield,  during  his  first  seminary  vacation,   he  met  Mr.  Cyrus  Crane 

n  Newark,  who  urged  him  to  accompany  him  to  Caldwell,  and  iireacli.  He  did 
so.  At  about  half-past  8  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  bell  was  rung,  and  ten  or  twelve  per- 
sons gathered  in  the  school-house.  They  were  niuch'movcd  by  the  news  of  God's 
dealings  in  Springfield,  and  welcomed  Mr.  Canfield  to  Caldwelland  their  families. 
He  at  once  began  to  visit  from  house  io  house,  and  to  hold  meetings  in  the 
school-houses.  The  result  was,  a  "general  awakening  among  all  classes  to  the 
momentous  interest  of  the  soul,  and  the  things  of  eternity,"  and  many  were  led 
to  Christ  and  saved.  After  spending  several  weeks  here.  Mr  Canfield  returned 
to  the  Seminary.  The  next  year,  (1827)  he  also  spent  a  part  of  his  vacation  here. 
In  June  182S,  he  was  invited  as  stated  above,  to  become  Mr.  Grover's  colleague. 
He  adds  "My  association  with  Father  Grover  was  always  pleasant  and  tender, 
and  we  labored  most  ::;irmoniously  together  to  the  last  of  my  residence  in  Cald- 
well. I  parted  in  pence  and  kindness  with  the  church,  Mr.  Grover,  and  every 
individual."  The  greater  part  of  his  ministerial  lif(>  has  he(^n  spent  in  the  Sec- 
retaryship of  the  A.  S.  S.  Union. 

2.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  the  oldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Barnalias  King,  ?o  many 
years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  at  Rockawoy. 


33 

On  the  25tli  of  April  1831,  tlic  Ivcv.  Gitlcuii  K.  Judd,  of 
Bloomfield,  being  present  us  Moderator,  tlic  Society  resolved 
to  change  its  form  of  government  and  to  request  the  Presby- 
tery of  Newark  to  receive  the  church  and  congregation  un- 
der their  care.  To  this  request  the  Presbytery  at  once  ac- 
ceded. On  the  12th  of  May  following,  the  congregation  met, 
and  after  an  hour  of  prayer  for  J^ivine  direction,  elected  the 
following  Elders,  viz.:  Calvin  S.  Crane,  George  P.  Martin, 
Samuel  Harrison,  Eufus  Harrison,  Nathaniel  S.  Crane,  Wil- 
liam Gould,  (who,  you  remember,  had  already  been  elected  for- 
ty-seven  years  before,  at  the  organization  of  the  church,)  and 
Jared  F.  Harrison,  to  the  office  of  Euling  Elder,  David  Min- 
tonye,Henry  S. Harrison  and  Jonathan  Provost,  Caleb  Crane, 
David  Harrison,  and  Samuel  Perry,  to  the  office  of  Deacon ; 
who  were  all  shortly  afterwards  ordained.  It  is  a  curious 
fact  that  just  after  this,  a  grossly,  intemperate  member  of  the 
church,  when  proceeded  against  for  his  immoralities,  en- 
deavored to  shelter  himself  from  the  judgment  of  the  session, 
by  denying  that  he  had  ever  consented  to  the  change  in  the 
form  of  government. 

It  is  deserving  of  mention  here,  that  at  this  date 
the  session  of  the  church  resolved  themselves  into  a  Temper- 
ance Society,  auxiliary  to  the  Essex  County  Temperance  So- 
ciety, and  drew  up,  (it  is  in  the  handwriting  of  General 
Gould)  a  constitution  which  was  subscribed  by  nearly  one 
hundred  persons, — all  being  males.  (The  document  is  in  the 
hands  of  Samuel  Crane.)  Py  that  instrument,  ardent  spirits 
were  proscribed  as  hurtful,  not  to  be  provided  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  friends,  nor  to  be  used  at  all,  except  as  a  medi- 
cine. Cider,  beer,  and  wine,  were  not  to  be  druidv  to  excess, 
under  penalty,  after  two  or  three  admonitions,  of  expulsion  ! 
For  the  times,  this  was  a  decidedly  forward  step. 

This  year  the  church  enjoyed  another  large  spiritual  re- 
freshing, and  received  thirty-seven  new  members  to  its  com- 


34 

niiinioiij  among  wliuin  were  the  Rev.  David  H.  Piersoii, 
(then  but  thirteen  years  old,)  Elder  M.  S.  Canfield,  and  Dea- 
con Asher  Crane.  In  the  following  year  fifteen,  and  in  the  next 
year  fifty-one  more  were  entered  npon  its  roll  of  communi- 
cants. 

During  the  summer  of  1833,  Mr.  Johnson  having  declared 
his  unwillingness  to  serve  the  congregation  longer  in  the 
capacity  of  assistant,  requested  the  Cliurch  to  unite  with  him 
in  asking  Presbytery  to  dissolve  his  pastoral  relation  to  this 
charge.  Having  tried  in  vain  to  induce  him  to  change  his 
mind,  they  granted  his  request,  as  likewise  did  Presbytery, 
and  he  at  once  relinquished  his  labors  here  after  the  very 
brief  but  successful  pastorate  of  three  years.'^  During  his 
stay  the  roll  of  church  members  was  increased  by  the  addition 
of  one  hundred  and  three  names. 

In  October  following,  Mr.  Grover  having  reached  his 
seventy-sixth  year,  and  l^eing  no  longer  able  to  perform  the 
duties  required  by  tlie  demands  of  so  large  a  parish,  and  it 
being  difficult  to  secure  a  minister  willing  to  be  settled  simply 
as  colleague,  the  congregation  obtained  their  pastor's  consent 
to  retire  from  the  cliarge  of  the  Church  altogether  upon  a  fixed 
annuity,  to  be  paid  until  his  death.  The  pulpit  thus  became 
•vacant.  At  the  time  of  this  relinquishment,  Mr.  Grover 
was  universally  beloved  by  his  people,  with  whom  he  had 
lived  as  pastor  for  forty-six  years.  Here,  too,  he  spent  the 
remaining  three  years  of  his  life  in  unabated  regard  for  his 
people,  and  enjoying  to  the  last  the  proofs  of  their  love  and 
veneration. 

For  the  next  six  months  the  Church  was  without  a  pastor, 
depending  for  its  preaching  upon  occasional  supplies  and 
candidates  for  settlement.     After  failing  in  an  effort  to  obtain 


1.  After  leaviug  here  Mr.  Johnson  went  to  Greenville,  N.  Y.  on  the  Hudson, 
remaining  there  till  ISil,  when  here  moved  to  Strousburg  and  Smithtield,  near  the 
Delaware  Water  Gap— He  is  now  in  Wiseonsin, 


35 

the  Rev.  E.  R.  Faircliild,  pastor  of  a  church  in  Wantage,  Sussex 
Co.,  on  the  twelfth  of  Ma_y,1834,  the  congregation  unanimously 
extended  a  call,  to  become  their  pastor,  to  Rev.  Richard  F. 
Cleveland^  recently  licensed  to  preach,  and  then  living  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland.  This  call  he  accepted  and  in  the  en- 
suing summer  he  was  regularly  installed  in  the  pastoral  office 
over  this  people. 

About  this  time  the  congregation  received  from  the  estate 
of  Major  Nathaniel  Crane  of  AVest  Bloomfield,  a  legacy  of 
five  hundred  dollars. 

This  year  is  likewise  memorable  for  a  very  material  change 
in  the  church's  confession  of  faith  and  covenant.  The 
original  ones,  as  has  been  mentioned,  had  been  in  use  about 
fifty  3'ears.     The  new  ones  were  in  use  eleven  years. 

I  find  in  the  re3ords  of  the  next  year  an  item,  which,  now 
that  slavery  no  longer  exists  in  our  land,  is  interesting  as 
showing  the  ground  taken  by  this  church  at  that  time  on  this 
subject. 

"  A  circular  from  the  Anti- Slavery  Society  of  Massachusetts, 
addressed  to  the  churches  was  laid  before  session  by  Rev,  Mr. 
Grover,  It  was  resolved  unanimously  that  the  said  circular 
be  read  to  the  church  without  note  or  comment,  and  the 
speedy  and  peaceful  termination  of  slavery  be  commended 
to  their  prayers." 

On  June  22d  of  the  next  year,  1S3G,  in  his  78th  year,  and 
almost  fifty  years  from  the  time  of  his  first  sermon  here,  the 
venerable  and  venerated  pastor  and  spiritual  father  of  the 
church,  suddenly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  whose  messages  of  love 
he  had  so  long,  and  faithfully,  and  successfully  proclaimed. 
lie  retired  as  usual  to  rest  at  night,  and  was  found  dead  in 


1.  Mr.  Cleveland  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  a  relative  of  Dr.  Cox,  and  M-as 
teaching  near  Baltimore  -when  licensed.  After  leaving  Caldwell  he  settled  in 
Fuyettcville,  Onondaga  Co.  N.  Y.  He  afterwards  became  District  Secretary  of  A. 
H.  M.  Society,  then  Pastor  of  a  Church  near  Utica.  A  son  of  his  has  preached 
in  Caldwell. 


36 

his  bed  in  the  morning.  His  death  was  caused,  it  is  thought, 
by  apoplexy.  A  great  concourse  of  people  attended  his 
funeral.  Kev.  Dr.  Hillyer  of  Orange,  the  oldest  surviving 
Minister  in  JSTewark  Presbytery,  preached  on  the  occasion, 
from  the  text,  "  Your  Fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the 
prophets  do  they  live  forever  ?"  Kev.  Mr.  Condit  formerly 
of  Hanover,  also  assisted  in  the  exercises.  These  Clergymen 
had,  like  Mr.  Grover,  and  cotemporaneously  with  him,  en- 
joyed long  pastorates  in  their  respective  fields  of  labor.  Several 
other  ministers  and  many  strangers  were  also  present.  He 
was  buried  just  back  of  his  pulpit,  and  among  large  numbers 
of  the  flock  to  whom  he  had  so  often  preached  of  Christ,  the 
resurrection  and  the  life. 

From  Mr.  Canfield's  impressions,  kindly  given  me  at  my 
request,  I  extract  the  following  : 

"  Mr.  Grover  was  a  man  of  great  urbanity,  sociability  and 
kindness.  He  was  a  ready  and  fluent  speaker,  shrewd,  wise, 
and  a  keen  judge  of  human  nature ;  a  faithful  and  successful 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  short,  a  true  christian  gentleman." 

From  the  inscription  on  his  monument  I  quote  the  follow- 
ing. "  As  a  ]3astor  he  was  devoted  and  faithful ;  as  a  preacher 
ardent  and  pathetic,  and  in  all  his  social  relations  kind  and 
affectionate ;  having  finished  his  work  he  fell  asleep.  (The 
widow  of  Mr.  Grover  survived  him  eleven  years  reaching 
almost  her  eighty-eighth  year.) 

A  few  weeks  before  his  death,  Mr,  Grover  recorded  with 
his  own  hand,  the  interesting  fact,  that  during  his  ministry 
alone,  between  twelve  and  thirteen  hundred  persons  had 
united  themselves  with  this  church. 

It  was  not  simple  justice,  but  truthful  and  eloquent  eulog}', 
to  place  on  yonder  marble  tablet,  respecting  this  honored  ser- 
vant of  God,  indicating  as  it  does,  his  imperishable  influence 
in  this  community,  "  He  being  dead  yet  speaketh.^" 

1.  During  the  greater  part  of  Mr.  Grover's  mmistry,g  it  was  liis  (and  a  general) 
practice,   to  visit  the  schools  of  the  parish  and  catccliize  the  children  as  often  as 


37 

Ot  what  remains  to  complete  this  discourse,  I  will  aim  to 
speak  with  brevity,  inasmuch  as  the  subsequent  history  of  the 
church  is  not  so  remote  as  to  be  out  of  the  memory  of  more 
than  a  few,  and  the  materials  for  its  future  delineation  are 
abundant. 

In  the  Spring  of  1837,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  an  Evangelist, 
having  labored  here  with  Mr.  Cleveland,  for  several  weeks, 
the  church  was  blessed  with  another  considerable  awakening. 
At  the  two  following  communions,  the  church  received  sev- 
enty-five members  into  fellowship.  Among  those  converted 
at  that  time,  though  he  united  with  the  church  in  Bloomfield, 
was  the  Rev.  Oliver  Crane,  who  went  in  1849  as  a  Mission- 
ary to  the  Armenians,  and  now  resides  in  Montclair.  Three 
hundred  Bibles  and  Testaments  were  distributed  through  the 
parish  this  year.  In  this  year  also,  (August  25th,)  three  ad- 
ditional Elders  and  five  Deacons,  were  elected  and  ordained, 
only  three  of  whom  remain,  viz.:  Messrs.  Provost,  Lane,  and 
Van  Gieson.  The  following  year  seventeen  persons  were 
added  to  the  church. 

During  the  3-ear  1839,  the  cliurch  was  thoroughly  remod- 
elled and  repaired.  The  whole  interior  of  the  building  was 
taken  out,  the  frame  of  the  steeple  and  the  house  strength- 
ened, a  new  roof  put  on,  the  ceiling  lowered,  (a  new  system 
of  supporting,  allowing  the  removal  of  the  columns,)  new 
chimneys  laid,  a  new  truss-gallery  built,  new  seats  made,  as 
also  a  new  and  lower  pulpit,  and  the  entire  structure  within, 
fashioned  and  arranged  anew — the  same  indeed,  as  you 
see  it  to-day,  with  the  exception  of  the  carpeting,  the  grain- 


practicable.  Pjircnts  very  generally  required  their  children  to  meinorizc,thc  Cat- 
echism, the  invaluable  formulary  of  the  Westminster  divines  being  in  employ. 
No  ill  effects  from  thus  combining  the  secular  and  doctrinal  have  ever  been  left 
on  record,  and  the  writer  is  of  the  opinion  that  tlie  abolition  of  this  custom, 
through  the  introduction  of  the  Sabbath-schools,  is  so  far  forth  a  departure  from 
the  "good  old  way."  While  a  return  to  the  practice  may  not  now  be  feasible, 
it  would  be  a  kindness  to  our  children  if  they  were  taught  this  iinexcellcd  sum- 
mary of  Christian  doctrine. 


38 

ing  and  papering,  and  removal  of  the  pulpit,  and  lowering 
of  the  platform,  whicli  were  done  fourteen  months  ago.  This 
work  was  completed  in  the  Fall  of  that  year,  at  a  cost  a  lit- 
tle over  twenty-two  thousand  dollars,  all  but  twenty  dollars 
of  which  was  subscribed  before  the  work  was  done.  The  la- 
dies furnished^  the  church,  and  procured  the  blinds,  {i.  e.) 
those  at  the  sides  of  the  pulpit,  and  those  under  the  the  gal 
leries.  Those  in  tlie  South  gallery  they  obtained  in 
1844.  During  this  year  the  Presbytery  of  Newark,  owing  to 
the  division  of  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  was  divided  into 
the  two  Presbyteries  of  Newark  an  i  Rockaway,  and  for 
a  single  year  this  church  belonged  to  the  Kockaway  Presby- 
iQvy.  It  was  set  back,  however,  the  following  year  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Newark. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1840,  Mr.  Cleveland  resigned  his  charge 
after  a  ministry  extending  through  six  years  and  a  half.  His 
salary  was  continued  until  the  1st  of  January  following,  and 
his  house-rent  and  fire-wood  were  furnished  gratuitously  un- 
til that  time.  During  Mr.  Cleveland's  ministry  one  hundred 
and  nine  persons  were  added  to  the  church. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  in  October,  1840,  Pev.  Samuel  L. 
Tuttle,  a  native  of  Bloomfield,  and  a  graduate  of  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  and  two  months  before  of  Auburn  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  and  only  three  weeks  before  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Newark,  preached  for  the  first  time  in 
this  house.  After  a  trial  of  three  months,  no  others  having 
been  heard,  on  the  22nd  of  February  1841,  he  was  unani- 
mously called  to  become  your  pastor,  and  accepted  the  call. 
On  tlie  9th  of  March,  ensuing,  in  special  meeting  of  Pres- 
bytery, he  was  ordained  and  installed,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


1.  llncler  date  of  April  17th,  1789,  1  flad  the  redords  :—'' Voted  that  there  be 
two  bushels  of  Sand  bought  of  the  collection  money  for  the  use  of  the  Meeting 
House."  This  sanding  of  the  floors  continued  for  just  half  a  century,  the  first 
carpets  being  introduced  in  1839,  after  renovation  of  the  church.  This  year  also 
coal  stoves  took  the  places  of  those  for  burning  wood. 


39 

five  years.  IIis  residence  for  a  time  was  in  the  family  of 
Deacon  Justus  A.  Burnett.  IIis  ministry  among  you 
lasted  eight  years  and  a  half.  He  was  permitted  to 
rejoice  in  three  considerable  revivals,  and  to  welcome  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  into  membership  with  the  church. 
At  the  time  of  his  leaving,  the  number  of  church 
members  amounted  to  three  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The 
aggregate  of  all  the  members  from  the  formation  of  the  church 
had  reached  then  to  about  sixteen  hundred.  It  was  dnrinji: 
his  pastorate  here,  that  the  congregation  gave  up  (January 
1842,)  the  use  of  the  old  version*  of  Watts'  Psalms  and 
Hymns,^and  adopted  the  Christian  Psalmist,  which  contimied 
in  use  until  1861,  when  the  Church  Psalmist  was  introduced. 
This  you  were  kind  enough,  when  I  came  among  you,  to 
displace  at  my  request,  by  the  present  excellent  and  unsur- 
passed collection,  "  Robinson's  Songs  of  the  Sanctuary." 
The  Bell,  which  convened  us  this  morning,  was  procured  in 
1848,  the  last  year  of  Mr.  Tuttle's  stay.  The  church  had  no 
bell  until  1811.  They  then  obtained  one  for  the  sum  of 
eighty-dollars,  which  weighed  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine 
pounds,  and  was  cast  and  owned  by  Daniel  Dod,  of  JVIend- 
ham.  It  had  been  cast  for  the  Newark  Court-Housc,  but 
proved  to  be  too  small.  This  was  in  use  here  until  1848. 
In  1847  the  ladies  raised  by  a  Fair  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  dollars,  towards  a  new  bell.     Subscriptions  were  also 

1.  The  writer  would  here  make  aeknowlcdgmeut  for  several  of  the  facts  of  this 
history  to  some  notes  left  by  Jlr.  Tuttlc,  and  kindly  placed  at  his  disposal  by  his 
son  William. 

2.  Our  fathers  must  have  believed  in  tlie  "  Service  of  Song,"  for  we  Ihid  tliem 
from  the  first,  clcctinfi:  no  less  than  six  or  eight  leaders  of  music.  In  May  IT'JO,  I  find 
it  "Voted,  that  the  singers  shall  have  the  front  seats  in  the  trallcry  in  the  follow- 
ing manner,  viz. ;  all  the  seats  in  front  of  flic  pulpit  for  the  Tenor  and  Counter. 
The  Bass  to  have  the  two  first  front  scats  in  the  side  gallery  as  far  as  the  middle 
aisle,  and  the  Treble  to  have  the  two  seats  opposite  the  Bass  as  fi\r  as  the  middle 
aisle." 

When,  in  1826,  the  number  of  leaders  was  reduced  to  five,  it  became  necessary 
at  the  annual  meeting  to  request  the  choristers  to  improve  the  psalmody  in  the 
church . 


40 

started,  and  a  new  one  of  twelve  hundred  pounds  weight 
was  procured.  This  did  not  prove  satisfactory,  and  after 
three  months  it  was  returned,  and  the  present  bell,  weighing 
sixteen  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  was  obtained.  Its  total 
cost,  with  arranging  the  steeple  lor  it,  was  six  hundred  and 
eighteen  dollars  and  fifty-six  cents.  It  was  placed  in  position 
August  8th,  1848.  To  the  forecast  and  energy  of  Mr.Tuttle, 
is  the  congregation  mainly  indebted  for  the  trees,  which  in 
Summer  so  greatly  adorn  our  church  grounds.  They  were  set 
out  in  Kovember  1848. 

It  was  also  during  his  stay  with  3'ou,  that  you  made 
(April  2nd  1846,)  a  second  change  in  your  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Covenant.,  for  a  Confession""  more  comprehensive, 
better  expressed,  and  containing  nothing  but  the  essential 
doctrines,"  and  a  "  Covenant  more  explicit,  definite  and  com- 
prehensive." (See  Api^endix  F.)  They  were  those  in  use 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Rockaway,  then  under  the 
care  of  the  venerable  Barnabas  King.  They  are  still  in 
honored  use  in  this  church.  AVhile  Mr.  Tuttle  was  here, 
the  parsonage-house  underwent  a  considerable  enlargement, 
rendering  it  inuch  more  commodious  and  convenient.^ 

Mr.  Tuttle  resigned  his  charge  March  7th  1849,  and  was 
dismissed  by  Presbytery  on  the  iTth  of  the  following  April. 
On  the  29th  ot  the  same  month,  he  preached  his  farewell 
sermon  from  the  text,  II.  Cor.,  13:11,  to  a  house 
filled  to  overflowing.  lie  alludes  to  the  occasion  as  a  "  so- 
lemn and  aftecting  time."  It  was  the  privilege  of  your  pres- 
ent pastor,  six  years  after  this,  to  sit  for  over  a  year  under 


1.  This  consisted  in  raising  tlie  lean-to  anotlier  story,  fiml  enclosing  it  under  a 
single  roof,  b}'  wliich  two  additional  rooms  Avere  secured.  In  1868,  two  rooms 
were  finished  off  in  the  third  story,  one  with  a  dormer-window. 
(Previously  to  this,  the  present  liitchen  had  been  added.)  In  1870,  the  eastern  end 
of  the  house  was  raised  to  two  full  stories,  aifording  a  very  light  and  desirable 
study. 


41 

Ml'.  Tattle's  ministry  cat  Madison,^  I  am  liappy  to  add  my 
testimony  to  his  excellence  as  a  preacher,  his  genial  and  en- 
dearing qnalities  as  a  pastor,  his  kindness  and  warmth  as  a 
friend.     He  died  April  IGth,  1800,  aged  fil'ty-onc  years. 

The  fifth  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Isaac  N.  Spraguc, 
D.  D.  He  accepted  a  call  from  this  congregation,  and  began 
his  labors  with  3'on,  January  1st,  1850.  He  had  previously 
been  pastor  of  a  church  in  Sherburne,  IST.  Y.;  of  the  Fourth 
Free  Church,  New  York  City;  the  Fourth  Church,  Hartford, 
Connecticut ;  and  the  Second  Congregational  Church,  Brook- 
lyn. There  is  not  time  now  to  take  up  in  detail  the  incidents 
of  his  long  and  successful  pastorate  among  you  of  nineteen 
years  duration,     SufKce  it  for  the  present  briefly  to  say,  tliat 


1  After  leaving  Caldwell,  Mr.  Tiittle  was  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Bible 
Society  for  several  years,  both  in  the  Secretary's  office  and  in  the  general  agency 
for  Connecticut.  January  Sd,  1S54,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  in  Madi- 
son, where  he  continued  until  April  IGth,  1SG2,  The  early  part  of  his  ministry 
there  as  here,  was  marked  liy  a  powerful  revival  of  religion.  Throughout  his  min- 
istry, additions  were  frequent,  aud  the  congregation  rapidly  grew.  His  resign- 
ation was  against  the  earnest  wishes  of  nearly  all  his  congregation.  It  was  with 
the  iitmost  reluctance,  and  with  highly  commendatory  resolutions,  that  the  Pres- 
bytery yielded  to  his  wishes.  In  ISo'J  his  wife  died  suddenly,  leaving  one  child, 
William  P.,  who  was  boru  in  Caldwell,  DccemberlOth,  184:2.  In  18(jl  he  married 
Miss  Margaretta  Thompson  of  Madison.  She  died  suddenly  in  1863,leaving  anin- 
fant]sou.  After  his  resignation  of  the  Madison  pulpit,  Mr.  Tuttlc  was  appointed 
agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  for  Western  New  York;  but  in  the  Spring 
of  1SC3,  he  was  invited  to  the  Bible  House  as  assistant  to  the  Secretaries,  which 
position  he  occupied  until  his  death.  In  this  sphere  he  entered  upon  his  duties 
with  great  enthiisiasm.  At  his  funeral,  his  friend  and  fellow-Secretary,  Dr.  Tay- 
lor, iu  the  elegant  tribute  he  paid  to  his  memory,  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  there 
was  no  person  so  thoroughly  and  minutely  acquainted  with  the  history  and  work- 
ings of  the  American  Bible  Socictj',  as  Mr.  Tuttle. 

Mr.  Tuttlc  possessed  a  bright,  cheerful  countenance,  which  kindled  (piickly  in 
conversation,  and  in  public  speaking.  His  voice  M'as  one  of  uncommon  rich- 
ness and  power.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  see  large  numbers  of  his  hcarcis 
moved  to  tears  under  his  tender  appeals.  In  prayer  lis  had  unusual  gifts.  The 
prayer  he  offered  at  the  bedside  of  his  dying  father,  on  his  last  visit  to  him,  was 
marvelous  in  its  tenderness,  its  earnestness,  its  exalted  faith;  as  if  both  father 
aud  son  were  even  then  seeing  God  face  to  ftice.  Those  who  wejit  under  the  fer- 
vor of  that  prayer,  did  not  doubt  that  the  father  would  soon  be  in  his  "Father's 
house,"  but  they  little  thought  the  sou  was  also  so  near.  The  father  died  Janu- 
ary Gth,  and  the  son  April  Kith,  or  rather,  both  entered  into  rest.  Sec  Wilson's 
Presbyterian  Historical  Almanac,  volume  t",  pp.  327-330. 

6 


42 

durino-  his  ministry  here,  there  occurred  no  less  than  nine  re- 
vivals,  several  of  them  of  imiisiial  power  and  frnitfulness. 

Wo  less  than  three  hundred  and  seventy -foin*  persons  pub- 
licly professed  their  faith  in  Clirist,  while  he  was  here,  and 
eighty-six  united  by  certificate,  making  four  hundred  and  sixty 
in  all — the  large  yearly  average  of  twenty-four.  The  largest 
number  received  at  any  one  time  was  seventy-one,  on  the  first 
Sabbath  in  May,  1862.  Eev.  O.  Parker,  an  Evangelist,  had 
preached  here  about  two  weeks  and  ahalf,aDd  the  special  meet- 
ings continued  nightly,  almost  uninterruptedly  for  the  period 
of  three  months,  with  the  above-mentioned  results.  A  min- 
istry so  steadily  fruitful  of  conversions  is  certainly  not  com- 
mon. 

In  order  to  accept  a  call  to  the  "Geneseo  Yillage  First" 
Presbyterian  Cliurch  of  Geneseo,  New  York,  Dr.  Sprague 
resigned  this  charge  two  years  ago  to-day.  The  membership 
of  the  church  was  then  four  hundred  and  twenty-seven. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  labors  in  this  field,  the  organ 
was  procured  (1861),  the  Cemetery  purchased,  (1866),  and  laid 
out  in  suitable  lots  for  interments  therein,  and  the  grounds 
around  the  church  protected  by  an  appropriate  and  orna- 
mental inclosure,  (1867),  thus  reclaiming  it  from  a  public 
common,  and  forming  a  resort  of  beauty  and  shade,  which 
will  compare  favorably  with  that  in  any  other  town  or  ^'illage 
of  the  county. 

The  j)lan  of  "  rotary"  Eldership  was  also  introduced  dur- 
ing Dr.  SjDrague's  ministry — both  Elders  and  Deacons 
being  chosen  in  December  1856,  as  also  in  1861  and  1866, 
for  a  term  of  five  years.  'No  tangible  advantage,  however, 
has  as  yet  seemed  to  result  from  this  plan.  Dr.  Sprague 
speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  his  new  field,  and,  as  was  to 
liave  been  expected,  reports  of  his  success  in  it  have  reached 
us. 

On  the  22nd  of  February,   1869,   you  extended  a  unaui- 


43 

nious  call  to  your  present  pastor  to  labor  with  you,  and  I  en- 
tered upon  my  labors  the  last  Sabbath  of  March.  I  was  in- 
stalled, the  5th  of  May  following,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Newark,  by  which  bod}'  I  had  been  ordained  on  the  Ttli  of 
March,  18C3,  God  has  given,  I  cannot  doubt,  a  double 
proof  of  his  guidance  in  my  decision  to  leave  the  field  (Yal- 
atie,  N.  Y.)  where  I  had  labored  for  five  years  and  a  half,  by 
blessing  this  my  second  charge,  in  the  first  year  of  my  resi- 
dence among  you  with  a  precious  revival,  as  a  fruit  of  which 
over  eighty  credible  conversions  occurred,  and  seventy-three 
,vere  added  to  the  church.  Up  to  this  date  we  have  received 
in  all  ninety-one  into  communion  since  my  installation,  and 
the  membership  of  the  church  is  now  just  five  hundred  be- 
ing larger  than  that  of  any  other  church  in  Newark  Pres- 
bytery. The  church  is  believed  to  be  at  this  present  in  the 
judgment  of  prudent  observers,  in  a  more  than  ordinarily 
prosperous  state. 

For  myself  and  family,  let  me  say  that  we  have  received 
from  the  first  nothing  but  kindness  and  distinguished  consid- 
eration from  you  all.  May  God  reward  and  richly  bless 
you. 


I  have  thus  sketched,  much  more  hastily  than  I  could  have 
desired,  the  history  and  present  condition  of  this  church  and 
congregation.  It  has  not  always  been  smooth  sailing  for  the 
church.  So  far  indeed,  is  this  from  very  true,  that  it  must 
be  said,  she  has  at  times  passed  over  very  tempestuous  and 
perilous  seas.  To  these  things  I  have  not  thought  it  wise  to 
particularly  allude.  God  in  his  great  mercy  has  conducted 
his  church,  and  she  has  in  safety  weathered  every  storm. 

Few  churches  have  been  so  often  and  greatly  blessed. 
This  has  seemed  to  be  a  Zion  peculiarly  favored.  Your 
fathers  builded  o-rcater  than  thcv  knew.     "When  we  remcm- 


44 

ber  tlie  feeble  beginning,  and  now  contrast  these  matured  re- 
sults, witli  Balak,  we  may  well  inquire — "  What  katii  God 

WKOUGIIT  ?  " 

Over  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls  hopefully 
converted  to  God  !  What  a  record  for  thankfulness  !  If  the 
spirits  of  the  departed  participate  in  the  affairs  of  this  earthly 
life,  how  many,  many  souls  must  bend  rejoicingly  over  us  to- 
day. 

At  least  four  ministers^  were  here  converted  to  God.  Four 
churches  also  are  much  indebted  for  their  origin  to  this  as  a 
parent  church ;  and  many  other  churches  scattered  far  and 
wide,  for  members  which  they  have  received  by  letter  from 
us.  The  moral  tone  of  this  whole  Township,  has  been  made 
to  partake  of  the  blessed  influence  of  this  church.  From 
the  first  it  has  been  continually  receiving,  and  likewise  im- 
parting good.  Resting  by  natural  location  upon  a  prominent 
site,  it  has  in  its  spiritual  eminence  been  a  Mount  Zion,  rich 
in  precious  and  glorious  results.  Greatly  has  it  been  blessed 
and  honored  by  the  Great  Head  of  the  church.  Feeble  in 
in  infancy,  it  has  yet  attained  to  the  strength  and  size  of  full 
stature.  The  mustard  seed  planted  in  faith,  has  indeed 
grown  into  arboreous  proportions,  and  become  withal  richly 
fruit  yielding.  In  this  Revival  CJiurch  God  has  loved  to 
dwell,  and  from  it  for  nearly  four-score  and  ten  years,  have 
the  fertilizing  streams  of  divine  grace,  been  flowing  down  in 
copious  volume  among  all  the  dwellers  of  this  region,  to  en- 
rich them  in  all  spiritual  things,  gladdening  the  hearts,  and 
refreshing  the  souls,  of  God's  children,  not  only  in  their  own 
quickened  life,  but  also  by  the  abundance  of  new  growths  in 
this  vine^^ard  of  the  Lord. 

Owing  to  the  meagerness  of  its  early  records,   accurate  in- 
formation of  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  church  cannot 


1.  Rev.  Abner  Brundagc,  Rev.  Joseph  C.   Moore,  buried  in  1844  in  tlie  church 
burying-ftronnd,  Rev.  David  11.  Picrson,  and  Rev.  Oliver  Crane. 


45 

be  given.  It  is  known,  however,  to  liave  been  in  the  con- 
stant liabit  of  contributing  to  tlie  varions  calls  for  monetary 
aid,  that  have  been  from  time  to  time  brought  to  its  notice, 
and  in  this  "  Memorial"  year  it  has  risen  mucli  above  its 
wonted  level,  and,  it  is  believed,  is  ready  to  .engage  with 
greater  self-denial,  and  intenser  devotement  in  "works  of  faith 
and  labors  of  love." 

And  now,  in  closing  this  review  of  the  church's  history, 
to  what  reflections  shall  we  give  ourselves?  The  fathers  are 
all  dead.  With  here  and  there  an  occasional  exception, 
their  chUdren  have  followed  them  into  the  other  world,  most 
of  them  we  trust,  redeemed  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ. 
T\\Q\Y  (jrand-children,  too,  have  largely  "  crossed  the  flood," 
and  those  that  remain  are  those  to  whom  the  young  look  up 
for  counsel,  and  Avho  have  long  been  the  pillars  of  the  church. 
It  is  upon  the  children's  children's  children^  that  ^\e  now  de- 
pend for  the  activity  that  is  to  support  and  carry  forward  the 
enterprise,  whose  foundations  cemented  with  prayer,  were 
laid  nearly  ninety  years  ago ;  and  these  'ere  long,  must  in 
turn,  become  themselves  the  counselors,  and  surrender  the 
field  of  action  to  their  children,  some  of  whom  are,  it  is 
grateful  to  record,  in  the  tender  years  of  childliood,  already'' 
numbered  on  the  roll  of  the  church  militant. 

Descendants  of  a  pious,  self-denying,  faith-sustained  ances- 
try, do  you  appreciate  the  legacy  which  has  been  bequeathed 
you  ?  Will  you  prove  yourselves  loorthy  inheritors  of  such 
blessed  possessions?  Do  not,  then,  forget,  that  increased 
opportunities  and  privileges,  bring  with  them,  enhanced  res- 
ponsibilities. Ilecalling  what  your  father's  fathers  and  their 
fathers  did,  contending  with  many  difHculties  and  discour- 
agements, bear  in  mind  to  what  you  are  called  by  your  pres- 
ent strong  and  responsible  position. 

Without  debt ;  with  a  convenient  and  comfortable  sanctu- 
ary ;  with    a   large   membershi}) ;  with    increased  monetary 


46 

supplies ;  with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  early  and  rapid  en- 
largement of  population;  with  an  animating  liistory; 
with  the  stimulating  promises  of  a  covenant-keeping  God,  who 
will  be  with  the  children  as  he  has  been  with  their  fathers  ; 
with  the  assistance  of  an  ever-present  Redeemer,  to  whom 
His  church  stands  in  the  near  and  dear  relation  of  bride ;  and 
with  the  regenerating  and  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  ever  ready  for  bestowal  as  the  "return  of  pray- 
ers ;  is  not  this  the  opportune  moment  of  high  advantage,  to 
l)egin  in  lofty  endeavors  to  make  the  future  bright  with  the 
lustre  of  your  deeds,  and  affluent  with  the  results  of  your 
labor, ; 

Availing  yourselves  of  the  impetus  given  by  your  fathers 
to  the  work  of  God  in  this  place  of  hallowed  memories,  will 
you  not  press  it  yet  more  rapidly  forward,  and,  broadening 
the  scope  of  your  faith,  increasing  the  fervor  of  your  prayers, 
multij)lying  your  assiduities,  and  putting  on  the  panoply  of 
God  under  the  guidance  of  the  Captain  of  Salvation,  inscribe 
upon  your  banners,   This  Township  for  Jesus  ! 

The  times  are  auspicious,  and  according  to  our  faith  so 
unto  us  shall  it  be.  The  real  life  of  Christianity  is  diffusive. 
A  little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole  lump.  With  foundations 
deep  and  broad  and  strong,  what  then,  may  not  be  safely  pre- 
dicted for  the  future  of  this  church,  if,  in  zealous  faith  and  in 
the  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  its  aim  shall  hereafter  be  measured 
only  by  its  possibilities  !  And  not  God's,  but  our  own,  must 
be  the  fault,  if  our  future  be  not  such  as  to  eclipse  the  past, 
if,  while  for  the  profit  there  is  in  them,  we  "remember  the 
days  of  old  and  consider  the  years  of  many  generations," 
there  be  not  in  the  vaster  moment  of  the  present,  abundant 
reason  to  give  heed  to  the  prophecy — "Remember  ye  not  the 
former  things,  neither  consider  the  things  of  old." 


APPE:^rDix. 


APPENDIX. 


PASTORS. 

Stephen  Grovkk- Ordained  and  installed  July  23rd,  17SS;  resigned  October, 
1S33 ;  died  June  22nd,  1830— in  his  seventy-eighth  year. 

Bakeu  Johnson— Began  labor  May  1830,  ordained  and  installed  May  1^01,  re- 
leased October,  1833.    Now  in  Oxford,  Wisconsin. 

Richard  F.  Cleveland— Called  May  12th,  1834,  installed  soon  afterwards  ; 
resigned  October,  1840;  settled  in  Fayetteville,  N.  Y.,  became  District 
Secretary  of  A.  II.  M.  Society,  then  pastor  of  a  church  near  Utica,  and 
died  in.thc  Autumn  of  1853.  A  son  of  his  has  preached  in  Caldwell  and  is 
now  on  Long  Island.    His  name  is  William  N. 

Samuel  L.  Tuttle— Began  labor  October,  1840 ;  ordained  and  installed  March 
9th,  1841;  resigned  April  17th,  1840,  died  April  16th,  1866;  aged  fifty- 
one. 

Isaac  N.  SPUAGUE-Began  labor  January  1st,  1850;  installed  March  'JTlli,  1850, 
resigned  January    1st,  1809. 

Charles  T.  Bekrv— Began  labor  March  28th,  1869;  installed  May  5th,  ISfl?. 


K  U  L I N  G   ELDERS 


Samuel  Crane. . . .  \  elected  both  Dea-  | 

Silas  Baldwin \  cons  and  Elders,  j 

George  Personett 

Joseph  Harrison 


December  4th,  1781,  1811. 

,,        ,,  (unascertained) 
„        ,,  1816. 

,       „  [became  a  Meth- 
odist 1837. 
,,        „  (unascertained) 
1847. 
1795,  1806. 

1810. 
,,  (unascertained) 


3rd, 


Aaron  Tompkins n 

William   Gould m 

Joseph  Baldwin January 

Enos  Martin i> 

Samuel  Tomkins >> 

Jonathan  Crane • -.  '  » 

Nathaniel  Douglass  |                             1    October  ord.  18Ki. 

Samuel  Perry I  Congregational  1 ,  .,  ,, 

Kufus  Harrison I       Deacons.        j   „  ,.  ^< 

Samuel  Gould I                            J    ^^^  ,    ij  ,  -' 

Calvin  S.  Crane May  I2lli,  1-31. 

Samuel  Harrison >.  "  " 

Rufus  Harrison m  "  " 

George  P.  Martin .i  >•  " 

General  William  Gould.. [re-elected] ,,  ,.  .. 

Nathaniel  S.  Crane n  »>  " 

Jared  F.  Harrison n  >»  « 


1824. 

1830. 

1848. 

1821. 

Mar.  4.  1837. 

„     5.  1849. 

July  17,  1848. 

Feb.  12.  1847. 
July  8th,  1870. 
July  3rd,  1862. 


50 


Jonathan  Provost Sept'r 

Henry  S.  Harrison ...        ,, 

William  G.  Crane ,, 

William  Lane Nov. 

Justus  A.  Burnett ,, 

Caleb  S.  Crane „ 

M.  S.  Cantield  J  Elected  for  5  years  and  re-  /  Dec. 
S.  O.  Harrison  \  elected  for  same  in  '61  '66.  )         ,, 

Zenas  C.  Crane f  "] Dec. 

Cornelius  H.  Jacobus  I     Elected  for      | 

Noah  O.  Baldwin ~1      live  years,      f ,, 

Lewis  C.  Grover. . . .    [  J „ 


nth,  1837. 

„  ,,  Dismissed  1843. 
,,  Dismissed  1843. 
loth,  1847. 

„        „    Mar.  29.  1857. 

,,  .,  Dismissed  1849. 
1st,     1856. 


1st,     186C. 


Dismissed  1868, 


DEACONS. 


Samuel  Crane Dec.  4th,     1781.            1811. 

Silas  Baldwin „  „        „  (unascertained.) 

Nathaniel  Douglass Oct.  3rd,      1819.              '    ' 

Samuel  Perry „  ,,        ,, 

Rufus  Harrison [Chosen  Elder  in  1831]..  „  ,,        ,, 

Samuel  Gould ,,  „        ,, 

Caleb  Crane         ) (  date  of  election  | 

David  Harrison  j (    not  recorded.    ) 

David  Mintonyea May  12th,     1833. 

Henry  S.  Harrison  (  chosen  Elders  ) ,,  ,,        ,,(Dismissed)1843. 

Jonathan  Provost  ]       in  1837.       ) ,,  ,,        ,, 

EzraBeach Sep't  11th,     1837. 

Justus  A.  Burnett  [chosen  Elder  in  1847] ...  ,,  ,,        „ 

Elijah  Pierson ,,  „        ,, 

Reinheer  Van  Gieson ,,  ,,        ,, 

William  Lane  [chosen  Elder  in  1847] ,,  ,,        ,, 

Horace  Mintonage Nov.  I5tli,    1847. 

Thomas  D.  Gould ,,  „        ,, 

Parker  Riker ,,  „        ,, 

Samuel  0.  Harrison ,  ,,        ,, 

John  De  Camp ,,  ,,        ,, 

Asher  Crane Dec.  1st,  1856.    |  Elected  for  s  j 

Cornelius  H.  Jacobus „  „        „     -^  .'Idin  "Tfor's  ^ 

Noah  0.  Baldwm ,,  ,,        ,,      (       years.       ) 

Asher  Crane ,.  ,,    1866    [again  re-elec- 
ted for  five  years.  ] 

William  H.  Bond ,,  ,,        ,,     (  elected  for  ) 

Matthias  C.  Dobbins.. [Dismissed]  1870 ,,  ,,        ,,    -^        five        V 

Anthony  Bowden ,,  ,,        „     (      years.      ) 


1824. 
1830. 

1848. 
1821. 
1844. 
1838. 
1834. 


1841. 
1857 
1862. 


1854. 
1862 


APPENDIX    A. 

This  third  Day  of  September  one  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  one  and  in 
the  Thirteentli  Year  of  tlic  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  William  the  Tliird  by  ye 
Grace  of  God  of  England  Scotland  France  and  Ireland  King  Defender  of  the 
Faith  Ac: 

Articles  of  agrement  made  and  Confirmed  by  us  the  Subscribers  and  Every  of 
us  firmly  by  these  presents  for  our  Selves  our  heirs  Executors  Administratoi"s 
and  Assigns  is  as  followeth  &c: 

lirst  We  whose  Names  are  underwriten  or  Subscribers  have  thought  it  Ex- 
pedient unto  our  behoofe  and  Profit  for  our  Selves  to  make  a  Purchase  of  ye  In- 
dians of  all  or  part  of  that  upland  Westward  or  Northwest  of  the  Town  Bounds 
of  Newark  within  ye  Compass  of  Pasayack  River  and  So  Southward  unto  ye 
Monusing  Path  (viz)  all  Land  as  yet  unpurchased  of  the  heathen  &c: 

21y  We  ye  above  Sd  Subscribers  in  order  to  ye  carrying  on  ye  afore  Sd  Pur- 
chase untill  we  have  procured  ye  afore  Sd  Land  unto  our  Selves  have  Chosen  a 
Committee  to  the  number  of  Seven  men  (viz)  Mr.  John  Treat  Mr.  .Joseph  Crane 
Joseph  Harrison  George  Harrison  Eliphelet  Johnson  John  Morris  and  John 
Cooper  and  ye  above  Sd  Committee  have  full  Power  from  us  ye  Subscribers  as 
well  for  us  as  themselves  in  Every  Matter  and  thing  in  and  about  the  purchase 
of  ye  afore  sd  Land  and  Primises  to  treat  bargain  and  agree  with  Such  Indians  or 
Indian  as  the  aforesd  Committee  Shall  by  their  Diligent  Inquiry  find  to  be  the 
Right  owners  thereof:  and  we  do  also  Agre  that  the  Major  part  of  ye  Commitee 
now  chosen  in  Case  of  failure  in  any  in  appearing  or  if  not  conveniently  to  be  had: 
Shall  have  full  power  to  act  in  and  about  ye  premises  aforesaid  &e  : 

Sly  We  the  aforesaid  Subscribers  Do  Agre  too  and  with  ye  aforesd  Committe 
to  Lay  down  So  much  money  or  moneys  upon  the  Demand  of  ye  Committe 
aforesd  to  Defray  and  pay  for  the  aforesd  Land  and  Primises  and  all  Such  Char- 
ges as  shall  Necessarily  Accrue  thereunto  according  to  our  proportion  by  our 
Subscription  &c : 

41y  We  the  aforesd  Subscribers  Do  Covenant  and  agre  with  Each  other  and 
the  aforesd  Committe  that  the  aforesd  Land  Shall  be  purchased  [and  paid  for  by 
us  the  Subscribers  and  So  Shall  be  held  and  continued  as  our  Just  Rights  Either 
in  General  or  pcrticular  alotmcnts  as  the  major  part  Shall  i\gre  from  time  to 
time  and  that  none  of  yc  sd  purchasers  their  heirs  or  assigns  Shall  at  any  time  appro 
priate  any  of  ye  sd  Lauds  or  premises  by  any  manner  of  way  or  means  but  by 
allottments  fairly  and  Legally  Drawn  as  the  major  part  of  the  Sul)scribers  Shall 
agre,  and  if  any  Subscribees  for  one  Lott  his  Right  Shall  be  according  Such 
as  Subscribe  for  two  Lotts  or  for  three  Lotts  their  Rights  Shall  be  according  and 
when  the  major  part  of  ye  Subscribers  Shall  agre  to  come  toalottments  that  then 
he  or  they  that  have  more  than  one  Lott  Shall  Draw  Severally  according  to  ye  num 
berof  their  Lotts  Subscribed  for  and  Shall  have  their  Land  as  it  falls  to  them  by 
alotment  &c 


52 


And  for  the  Confirmation  of  Each  and  Every  article  thing  or  things  aforesd 
the  Subscribers  for  our  Selves  our  heirs  Executors  administrators  and  assigns  Do 
by  These  presents  bind  and  Oblige  our  Selves  unto  Each  other  to  Stand  to  Ratifle 
and  Confirm  Each  Article  and  thing  aforesaid. 

in  Confirmation  hereof  we  the  Subscribers  have  Voluntarily  and  unanimously 
Set  to  our  hands  the  Day  and  Year  above  Written  &c 


LOTTS 

John  Treat  1 

Hugh  Roberts  1 
Daniel  Crane  1 
Robert  Young  2 
Joseph  Harrison  I 
Sam'll  Dod  2 

Daniel  Dod  1 

Joseph  Brown  1 
Eliphelet  Johnson  1 
Paul  Day  1 

Nath.  Whelar  jun  2 
John  Medlis  1 

Thomas  Brown  1 
Sam'll  Ward  1 

Atonie  Olive  ] 
Wm.  Muir  1 

Peter  Cundict  1 
John  Daviss  2 

Sam'll  Baldwin  1 
John  Baldwin,  Sr  2 
Joseph  Linsley  1 
Tunis  Johnson  1 
Tho:  Ludington  1 
Amos  Williams  1 
Sam'll  Camp  1 

Jonathan  Sayers  1 
Daniel  Dod,  Jun  1 
John  Johnson  1 
Sam'll  Cooper  1 
Matthew  Can  field  1 
Joseph  Crane  1 
John  Plumb  1 

Jonathan  Sargint  1 
John  Broadberry  1 


LOTTS 

John  Cooper  1 

Azariah  Crane  3 

Daniel  Baldwin  1 
Jasper  Crane,  jun  1 

Robert  Cambel  1 

Thomas  Hays  1 

John  Clark  3 

John  Lee  1 

Joseph  Canfield  2 

Georg  Harrison  1 

James  Clizbe  1 

John  Cundict  1 

Jose.  Plumb  1 

Daniel  Brown  1 

William  Wilson  1 

Sam'll  Harrison  1 

Judah  Penington  1 
Benjamin  Harrisonl 

-Seth  Tomkins  1 

Sam'll  Roberts  1 

Sam'll  Freeman  1 

Joseph  Ball  1 

Cobus  Provost  1 
Matthew  Williams  1 

James  Smith  1 

Elezar  Tomkins  1 

Joseph  Johnson  1 

Mr.  Wakeman  1 

Sam'll  Ailing  1 

Caleb  Ball  1 

John  Crane  1 

Elizabeth  Ogden  1 

Anthony  Hand  1 

David  Ogden  1 


Daniel  Harrison 
Ebenezer  Lindsley 
Jasper  Crane 
Ben:  Baldwin 
Nathaniel  Ward,  Sen 
John  Linsley 
John  Gardnei 
John  Ogden 
John  Delglish 
Thomas  Brown,  Jun 
John  Morris 
John  Burwell 
John  Rogers 
Jonathan  Linslej- 
William  Brant 
Mr.  Pierson 
Crispin  Squire 
Ele.  Bruen 
Edward  Ball 
Mr.  John  Pruden 
Sam'll  Lyon 
Stephen  Browne 
Joseph  Peck 
Zophar  Bech 
James  Rogers 
Josiah  Ogden 
Sam'll  Kitchel 
Abraham  Kitchel  1 
Elezer  Lamson 
Daniel  Tikenor 
Daniel  Sargent 
Bostegon  Vangeson 
Joseph  Wood 


53 


FROM  THE  TOWX  RECORD. 

At  a  Town  Meetinft-  iu  Newark,  October  2,  1G99— First— it  was  agreed  by  tlic 
generalty  of  the  Town,  that  they  would  endeavor  to  make  a  Purchase  of  a  Tract 
of  Land  lying  Westward  of  our  Bounds,  to  the  South  Branch  of  the  Passaick 
River  ;  and  such  of  the  Town  as  do  contribute  to  the  purchusing  of  the  s'd  Land, 
shall  have  their  Proportion  according  to  their  Contribution.  2ndly,  That  Mr. 
Pierson  and  Ensign  Johnson  are  chosen,  to  go  and  treat  with  the  Proprietors 
about  the  same,  to  obtain  a  Grant.  3rdly,  There  was  a  Committee  chosen  (viz) 
Samuel  Harrison,  Thomas  Davis,  Kobcrt  Young,  Daniel  Dod,  Nathaniel  Ward, 
and  Jolni  Cooper,  to  consider,  agree,  and  put  forward  the  Design  abovcsaid. 

FUOM   THE   L.VWS  OF  NEW   JERSEY. 

Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  passed  Dec  13 
1703  (being  the  First  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  after  the  Surrender  of  the  Gov- 
ernment to  the  Crown. 

Session  the  First,  Chapter  First. 

An  Act  for  regulating  the  purchasing  of  Land  from  the  Indians 


Whereas  several  ill-disposed  persons  within  this  Province  have  formerly  pre- 
sumed to  enter  into  Treaties  with  the  Indians  or  Natives  thereof,  and  have  pur- 
chased Lands  from  them,  such  person  or  persons  deriving  no  title  to  any  part  of 
the  soil  thereof  under  the  Crown  of  England,  or  any  person  or  persons  claiming 
by  from  or  under  the  same,  endeavoring  thereby  to  subvert  Her  Majesty's  Dom- 
inion in  this  Country. 

SUMMARY   OF    ACT. 

1.  No  person  to  purchase  of  the  Indians  but  those  who  have  a  riglit  of  Pro- 
priety and  obtain  a  license. 

2.  Any  person  purchasing  to  forfeit  Forty  Shillings  per  acre  one  half  to  sup- 
port Government,  the  other  half  to  the  Prosecutor  and  be  disabled  to  sue  for  the 
Land. 

3.  Every  pei-son  having  purchased  without  a  Right  under  the  Crown,  such 
purchase  to  be  void  unless  such  person  obtain  a  Grant  from  the  Proprietors  iu 
six  months. 


45 
APPENDIX'    B. 

To  all  Christian  People  To  Whom  these  presents  Shall  Come,  Greeting,  &e. 
Know  Ye,  That  Whereas  Sundry  of  Our  Fathers  and  Predecessors,  viz.  Loan- 
tique  Taphow  Manshum  with  Divers  others  the  Owners  and  Proprietors  of  the 
Lands  Over  or  Above  the  Mountains  for  and  in  consideration  of  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty  Pounds  or  Thereabouts  Received  of  Sundry  the  Inhabitants  of  New- 
ark, viz ;  John  Treat,  Jasper  Crane,  Joseph  Harrison,  George  Harrison,  With 
Others  their  Associates  Did  Make  Seal  And  Execute  a  Good  Lawful  Detd  or  In- 
strument of  Conveyance  of  and  for  A  Certain  Tract  of  Land  Scituate  in  the 
County  of  Essex  Between  the  Top  of  the  first  Mountain  So  Called  And  Pasaick 
River  Beginning  At  the  mouth  of  Pine  Brook  So  Called  and  thence  running  up 
the  Said  River  Unto  Menusen  path  so  Called  Excepting  a  Small  Tract  Lying  by 
Said  River  Granted  before  to  Mr.  Theophilus  Pierson  As  per  Deed  &c  May  Ap- 
pear And  Down  Said  Path  Unto  Osbornes  Land  and  Along  his  Line  to  Newark 
Line  on  the  Mountain,  And  Northerly  along  Said  Mountain  Unto  a  Place  Called 
the  flatt  Rock  by  Gardners  Land  And  a  White  Oak  Tree  Marked  on  four  Sides  and 
thence  Northwest  Unto  the  Dutch  Line  So  Called  And  along  Said  line  to  the  place 
Where  it  Began.  Which  Said  Deed  <Sc  was  Lost  by  fire  in  the  House  of  Mr.  Jon- 
athan Pierson  of  Newark  Providentially  Burnt  the  Seventh  Day  of  March  1744-5 
And  Bare  Date  Sometime  in  March  :  An  :  Dom  :  1701-2  Now  be  it  known  that 
We,  King  Quiehtoe,  King  Tishewokamin,  Shaphoe,  Yaupis  In  behalf  of  Our 
Selves  and  Others  the  Heirs  and  Successors  of  the  Aboves'd  Grantors  for  and  in 
Consideration  of  the  full  Satisfaction  heretofore  Made  by  Our  Christian  friends 
the  Inhabitants  of  Newark  to  Our  Predecessors,  As  well  as  in  Justice  to  them 
Who  Were  the  true  Sole  and  LawfuU  Owners  of  the  Land  Conveyed  as  Above- 
said,  Have  hereby  Granted  Made  Over  and  Confirmed  And  Do  hereby 
for  Our  Selves  Our  Heirs  And  Successors  Grant  Make  Over  and  Con- 
firm Unto  our  Aforesaid  friends  in  Newark,  vizt  John  Low,  Samuel 
Harrison,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  Jonathan  Pierson  Nathaniel  Camp  John 
Cundict  and  Samuel  Baldwin  With  their  Associates  heretofore  Interested  in  the 
Premisses  and  to  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  All  that  Certain  Tract  of  Land 
(heretofore  Granted)  As  is  Above  Specified  and  Described.  To  Have  and  to  Hold 
All  and  Singular  the  hereby  Granted  and  Confirmed  Premisses  with  All  the  Ap- 
purtenances privileges  and  Commodities  Unto  the  Same  Belonging  or  in  any 
Wise  Appertaining  Unto  them  the  said  John  Low  Sami;cl  Harrison  Nathaniel 
Wheeler  Jonathan  Pierson  Nathaniel  Camp  John  Cundict  and  Samuel  Baldwin 
And  their  Associates  and  to  their  Htirs  And  Assigns  forever.  And  we  Do  hereby 
Covenant  for  Our  Selves  Our  Heirs  Executors  &cto  And  With  them  the  Grant- 
ees in  the  Premisses  &  their  Heirs  and  Assigns,  that  We  have  in  Our  Selves  Good 
Right  Power  And  Authority  to  Grant  and  Confirm  the  Premisses  as  is  Hereby  De- 
clared and  herein  Set  forth  And  that  All  and  Singular  the  Grantees  Shall  and 
May  Always  forever  hereafter  Both  themselves  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  Lawfully 
Peaceably  And  Quietly  Have  Hold  Use  Occupy  Possess  and  Enjoy  All  and  Singu- 
lar the  heretofore  and  hereby  Granted  Premisses  With  All  the  A]ipurtenances 


55 

free— from  all  other  Grants  And  All  Incumbrances  And  Troubles  Which  May 
Arise  from  or  by  Reason  of  Any  Claims  Made  Unto  the  hereby  Granted  and  Con- 
firmed Premisses  or  Any  Part  thereof:  In  Witness  Whereof  Wc  have  hereunto 
SetOur  hands  and  Seals  this  fourteenth  Day  of  March  In  the  Eighteenth  Year  of 
the  Reign  of  Our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Second  by  the  Grace  of  God  of 
Great  Britain  France  it  Ireland  King  itc  : 

Annoque  Domini  1741-5. 

The  Mark  of  Tisciiewokamin  M— O 
The  Mark  of  Shaphoe    Z— O 
The  Mark  of  Quieutoe    A— O 
The  Mark  of  Yaupi    7.-0 

Signed  Sealed   and  delivered  In  Presence  of 
Isaac  Van  Gibson 
Francis  C  Cook  his  X  mark 
Daniel  Taylor 
^Michael  W  Vkeelanut    his  X  mark 

Memorandum)  Be  it  Remembered  That  on  the  Eight  Day  of  November  An'o 
Dom  1745  Appeared  before  Me  Joseph  Bonnell  One  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  this  his  Majesties  Province  of  Nova  Cesarea  or  Newjcrsey  Daniel  Taylor 
One  of  the  Witnesses  of  the  Within  Deed  or  Confirmation  And  Made  Oath  that 
he  Was  Present  and  Did  See  the  Parties  Within  Named  Sign  Seal  and  Deliver 
the  Same  as  their  Act  and  Deed.  Joseph  Bonnpl 

Newark  August  ye  -Ith  17-1'J 

Then  Appeared  Before  Me  Eliphelet  Johnson  One  of  his  Majesties  Justices  of 
the  Peace  Abraham  Vangecscn  And  Isaac  Vangeescn  And  Made  Oath  that  they 
Saw  formerly  An  Old  Indian  Deed  And  What  is  herein  Writ  is  a  true  Coppy  to 
the  Best  of  there  Knowledge.  Elipii't  Johnson. 

A  Contirmation  [of  the  Indian  Deed  of  the  Purchase  over  the  Mountain  Date 
March  yc  6th  1702. 
A  True  Coppy  taken  per  Me,  Elijah  Crane  ;  Clark 


A  P  P  P:  N  D  I  X    p.  B. 

An  interesting  fragment  of  the  language  of  the  Indians  has  been  preserved. 


1. 

ccn, 

(■). 

latter. 

11. 

een  dick, 

16.    een  bumsaek, 

2. 

teen, 

1 . 

satter. 

I'J. 

teen  dick. 

17.  teen  bumsaek, 

3. 

tether, 

8. 

po, 

13. 

tether  dick. 

IS.  tether  bumstack, 

4. 

fether 

y^ 

dcbbety, 

14. 

fether  dick, 

19,  fether  bumsaek. 

5, 

fimp. 

IC. 

dick. 

15, 

bumsaek. 

20,  enock. 

Sec  Hoyfs  Orange,  page  21. 


56 
APPENDIX  C. 

As  au  item  of  interest  and  serving  to  tlirow  some  liglit  upon  the  conflict  be- 
tween tlie  Settlers  and  Proprietors,  I  quote  several  extracts  from  the  Bill  iu 
Chancery.  "  We  never  heard"  say  the  Proprietors,  "of  such  a  purchase  as  Van 
Gesin's  Purchase  or  Horseneck Purchase  until  within  these  two  years  (1744-1746) 
that  we  have  been  told,  that  two  such  Deeds  from  some  Indians  had  been  pro- 
cured, bearing  Date  in  or  about  1701 ;   but  by  whom  or  from  whom  iu  particular 

we  have  not  as  yet  learnt." "It  is  evident  by  the  Act  of  1703  they  are  void; 

and  if  done  in  1701  as  pretended,  it  is  obvious  from  the  Act  of  1683  hereinbefore 
mentioned  that  the  transactors  thereof  were  Criminals  for  so  treating  and  accept- 
ing of  Deeds,  and  not  only  so,  but  they  were  liable  to  the  Penalty  of  forty  shil- 
lings per  acre  for  every  acre  bought  of  such  Indians,  after  1703.  as  well  as  to  the 
Penalty  of  twenty  shillings  for  every  Log  or  Tree  by  them  cut  on  such  Lands  on 
pretence  of  these  Deeds,  or  any  other  way,  without  Leave  of  the  Owner ;  and 
that  whether  the  Lands  belong  to  the  Proprietors  in  general  or  to  others  in  par- 
ticular."   "  We  know  of  no  confusion  in  this  Province  but  what  the 

Rioters  and  their  accomijliccs  have  made  and  are  animating  the  People  to  make, 
upon  the  false  and  iinfair  suggestions  in  the  Post-Boijs  Faper,  in  hopes  to  wrest 
from  the  General  Proprietors  both  their  rents  and  lands  and  to  set  up  Sham 
Deeds  procured  from  strolling  Indians,  for  a  few  bottles  of  Rum,  or  such  Con- 
siderations in  place  of  the  title  of  the  Crown  of  England,  to  the  lands  of  N.  J. 
An  attempt  so  daring  that  they  cannot  hope  to  succeed,  in  it  without  not  only 
oversetting  the  fundamental  Laws  and  Constitutions  confirmed  by  many  acts  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  N.  J.,  but  also  withdrawing  their  allegiance  from  the 
Crown  of  England,  which  must  support  its  own  title  to  N.  J.  as  well  as  to  its 

other  Provinces." "  Though  neither  the  General  Proprietors  nor  their 

Council  were  privy  to  the  Treaties  hinted  at  in  the  Fost-Bm/s  Paper,  or  concerned 
in  any  ejectments  or  suits  there  mentioned,  yet  as  Messrs.  Alexander  &  Morris, 

supposed  to  be  the  two  Persons  meant  by  the  Letters  A r  &  M s  were  privy 

to  them  and  are  two  of  our  own  body  we  have  desired  and  they  have  given  us  an 

account  of  what  Concerns  them,  as  follows,  viz:    They  say that  there  was 

in  June  1701,  the  Quantity  of  13,500  Acres  of  Land  surveyed  and  patented  at 
Horse-Neck  to  Sir  John  Moore,  Knight,  Sir  Thomas  Lane,  Knight  and  Alderman 
of  London,  and  other  Proprietors  in  and  about  London  commonly  known  and 
called  by  the  name  of  the  West  Jersey  Society,  in  Right  of  their  Second  Divi- 
dend for  two  Proprieties  and  a  half,  or  Tweny-Fourth  parts  of  East  New  Jer- 
sey. 

They  say  also,  that  by  Deed  recorded  Lib.  A,  B  2.  fol.  100,  iu  the  oflSce  of  the 
Proprietors  Recorder  and  in  Lib.  F.  2.  fol.  370,  in  the  Secretary's  Office  at  Perth 
Amboy,  they  with  Mr.  David  Ogden,  purchased  the  said  Tract  of  Land  in  the 
name  of  Mr.  Alexander,  having  many  months  before  agreed  for  the  purchase; 
that  after  the  purchase  Avas  agreed  for,  they  caused  the  said  tract  of  land  to  be 
carefully  surveyed  and  found  thirty-five  families  settled  thereon  whereof  several 
were  bona  fide  Purchasers  from  other  Proprietors  about  thirty  years  ago  (1716) 
under  mistaken  later  appropriations  interfering  with  the  said  Tract,  and  as  io  all 


57 

these  except  ouc  they  have  agreed  with  tlie  heh's  of  the  Vendors  to  confirm  the 
Heirs  of  the  Purchasers — wliich  one  they  arc  in  hopes  they  shall  in  like  manner 
agree  with.  And  as  to  the  Remaining  People,  settled  without  any  title,  they 
offered  the  Refusal  of  cither  leasing  or  buying  the  Spots  they  were  settled  on, 
with  Covenants  to  warrant  and  defend  the  Purchasers  and  Lessees  against  all 
Persons,  and  many  of  them  treated  with  Mr.  Ogden  for  that  purpose,  and  he 
thought  they  had  agreed ;  but  afterwards  finding  the  People  spirited  up  to  de- 
part from  those  Agreements,  Mr.  Ogden,  in  liehalfof  himself  and  Partners  wro^tc 
a  letter  to  tlieni  on  the  22nd  of  Dec.  17-1-1,  and  had  Six  Copies  of  it  delivered 
amongst  them  with  Request  to  communicate  it  to  the  rest."  (Of  this  letter  1 
give  only  the  substance.)  It  proposed  to  them,  1st,  A  lease  ior  one  year  without 
paying  any  rent  for  their  fiirms  and  then  to  deliver  up  the  possession ;  2ndly 
Each  to  take  a  lease  for  three  years,  each  paying  the  yearly  Rent  for  his  farm  the 
sum  afnxcd  to  his  name  in  an  enclosed  paper.  3rd,  that  they  purchase  from  the 
Proprietors  sufficient  land  for  a  fiirm,  or  plantation  where  they  lived,  at  the  rate 
likewise  aflixed  for  every  acre  to  each  name.  The  letter  demanded  a  speedy 
compliance  and  warned  the  settlers  that  they,  the  Proprietors,  ■were  not  to  be 
trifled  with.  It  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Francis  Spier  and  others  living  on  the  So- 
ciety's Patent  at_Horse-Ncck.  [Mr.  Spier  was  then  living  on  the  west  North-Cald- 
well  road.] 

Another  letter  was  written  them  Jan.  29.  ]7-i4-5,  limiting  the  time  for  decision 
upon  the  proposals  offered,  to  the  4th  Tuesday  of  the  next  March.  If  any  of  the 
settlers  doubted  the  Proprietors'  title,  as  they  had  heard  they  did,  this  would  af- 
ford them  opportunity  to  procure  Counsel  to  view  their  title. 

In  March,  IT^-i,  the  Partners  of  Ogden  learned  that  the  people  determined  to 
hold  by  their  Indian  Title.  Upon  this  they  resolved  to  serve  the  leading  settlers 
with  Declarations  of  ejectment,  still  allowing  them  to  embrace  the  proposals  of 
Dec.  22nd  and  agreeing  to  jiay  Costs. 

Near  the  third  Tuesday  of  March  John  Law  and  John  Condict  met  with  the 
then  Partners  at  Perth  Amboj',  but  brought  no  Counsel  with  them.  As  the  re- 
sult of  this  interview  they  refused  to  accept  the  proposal  of  Dec.  22nd.  Law 
professed  however  to  have  changed  views  of  Indian  claims  and  promised  to  in- 
form the  iieople  respecting  such  facts  as  had  been  shown  him.  Whether  this  was 
done  or  not  is  not  known. 

The  Contest  was  general  and  spirited.  Several  riots  oecurcd  in  connection 
with  it.  More  than  once  the  Newark  jail  was  broken  open  for  the  liberation  of 
persons  who  had  been  arrested  for  their  share  in  the  transactions.  On  Nov.  13. 
1749,  the  house  of  Abraham  Phillips  of  IIorse-Ncck,  was  l>roken  open,  the  owner 
turned  out  and  a  stack  of  oats  burnt.  In  the  following  March  the  rioters  were 
spreading  their  influence  to  such  a  degree  that  the  Legislature  seemed  to  be  stag- 
nated by  it.  (See  Analytical  Index  to  the  Colonial  Documents  of  New  Jersey, 
pp.  257-8. 

When  the  Jail  was  brokcn^open  Jan.  1.  1740,  Mr.  Thomas  Gould,  then  28  years 
of  age,  carried  the  flag  on  the  occasion.  So  at  least  Mr.  Congnr  thinks  if  r.  Silas 
Condict  of  Orange  stated. 

8 


68 


By  the  Council  of  Proprietors, 
Perth  Amboy,  M'ch  25.  174G. 


"  The  Post-Boy  of  the  17th  Feb.  last,  iusinuatcs  that  the  Persons  iu  whose  Fa- 
vor these  Riots  were  made,  have  a  better  title  to  the  Lauds  in  dispute  than  the 
General  Proprietors,  and  those  claiming  under  them ;  that  they  have  been  put  to 
great  expense  by  many  vexations  suits ;  that  they  are  prevented  from  bringing 
their  causes  fairly  before  the  King ;  that  the  Conduct  of  the  General  Proprietors 
has  been  cruel,  harrowing  and  vexatious  ;  and  that  in  the  particular  Transaction 
between  the  settlers  of  the  Lands  called  Horse-Neck  and  the  pei-sons  claiming 
under  the  General  Proprietors,  the  Settlers  have  made  fair  and  reasonable  propo- 
sals and  the  Claimers  have  rejected  them.  To  these  charges  the  Proprietors  re- 
turned a  general  denial;  affirmed  their  ignorance  of  any  Indian  deed,  declared 
that  the  Governor  and  the  Council  were  to  malce  all  purchases  of  the  Indians— 
the  settlers  to  pay  their  proportion  of  these  Charges,  and  then  add.  Possibly 
many  of  the  Rioters  being  ignorant  men  and  many  of  them  strangers  to  the  Pro- 
vince, and  since  they  came  to  it  living  retired  in  and  behind  the  mountains  of 
Newark,  upon  any  land  they  could  find  without  inquiring  who  the  owner  thereof 
was,  have  of  late  been  animated  and  stirred  up  to  believe  that  those  things  which 
the  laws  of  the  Province  have  declared  to  be  criminal  and  penal  were  lawful ; 
that  those  crimes,  committed,  gave  the  criminals,  Rights,  Privileges  and  Proper- 
ties ;  but  though  many  have  been  ignorant  enough  to  be  so  seduced,  we  cannot 
think  that  all  can  with  truth  plead  that  excuse  ;  some  there  are  amongst  them, 
who  may  though  not  be  acquainted  with  all  the  Particulars  aforesaid,  yet  cannot 
be  supposed  never  to  have  seen  the  printed  Laws  of  this  Province  and  the  first 
leaf  of  which  has  had  at  least  three  Editions,  making  those  Pretences  void  and 
penal.  The  poor  deluded,  ignorant  PeopIc,we  conceive,  deserve  Pity  and  Compass- 
ion but  the  laws  of  the  Province  point  out  the  Deserts  of  Seducers." 

They  concluded  with  declaring  no  knowledge  of  the  settlers  being  invaded  and 
profess  great  consideration  for  the  prosperity  of  N.  J. 


appe:n'dix  d 


DEED   OF   PARSONAGE   LAND. 


This  Indenture  made  the  nineteenth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1779,  between  Caleb  Iletficld  of  New-Ark  Township  in  the  County  of  Essex  in  the 
State  ot  New  Jersey,  William  Crane  of  the  Town  and  County  Aforesaid,  and 
Noah  Crane  of  the  Town  and  County  aforesaid,  of  the  one  part ;  and  Thomas 
Gould,  Samuel  Crane,  Joseph  Oould,  Joseph  Baldwin,  John  Oo^dd,  Joseph  Harrison, 
and  Abraham  JVoe,  all  of  Ilorsc-ncck,  in  the  Said  County  of  Essex,  of  the|]  other 
part ; 

Whereas,  divers  Inhabitants  iu  and  about  a  place  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Horse-neck,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  professing  the  Protestant  religion 
under  the  denomination  of  Presbyterians,    being  destitute  of  a  place  of  publick 


59 

worship,  ;iud  bciug  very  desirous  of  promotini;  llie  publiclc  worship  of  Ahnighty 
God,  by  makin,!^  dceent  provision  for  tlic  support  of  a  minister  of  tlie  Gospel  of 
that  denomination,  and  crectini;  a  convenient  house  for  puljliek  worship,  have 
contracted  with  the  parties  aforesaid  of  the  lirst  part,  for  a  certain  tract  of  land 
heroin  after  mentioned,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  ;  but  not  being  a  body  known 
in  law  or  incorporated,  so  as  to  take  and  hold  lands  in  a  public  or  corporate  ca- 
pacity, have  for  the  security  of  the  said  lands  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  met  to- 
gether and  unanimously  chosen  the  parties  aforesaid  of  the  second  part.as  Trustees 
to  take  and  hold  tlie  said  lands,  to,  and  for,  the  uses  and  purposes  of  supporting 
the  publick  worship  of  Almighty  God  as  aforesaid,  and  making  provision  for  a 
Minister  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Said  Denomination,  to  be  chosen  from  time  to  time 
by  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Ilorse-neck,  who  shall  from  time  to  time  form  and 
make  up  on«  Congregation  to  be  known  hereafter  by  the  name  of  the  Fikst 
Pkesbytekian  CuuKcn  in  Horse-neck  in  such  manner  as  the  said  congregation 
shall  direct  and  appoint,  but  to  no  other  use  whatever,  or  of  any  other  Congre- 
gation that  may  hereafter  be  erected  and  set  up  in  said  Horse-neck,  but  to  tlie 
solo  use  of  said  First  Presbyteuian  CiiURcn  in  Horse-neck  as  aforesaid.  And 
whereas  the  said  parties  of  the  Second  part  have  agreed  to  accept  of  the  same  and 
to  take  and  hold  the  said  lands  subject  to  the  trusts  and  uses  aforesaid  ;  now  in 
order  to  coulirm  the  same,  This  Lulcnturc  WUiiessdh,  that  the  said  Caleb  Hct- 
Jldd^  WiUUiin  Crane  and  Koah  Crane,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  Sum  of  Ten 
Shillings,  Proclamation  Money  of  New  Jersey,  to  them  in  hand  well  and  truly 
paid  by  the  said  Thomas  Gould,  Hamucl  Crane,  Joseph  Could,  Josepl: 
Baldwin,  John  Gould,  JosejjJi  Harrison  and  Abraham  Noe  at  or  before  the  ex- 
ecution hereof  the  receipt  Avhereof  is  hereby  acknowledged ;  and  also  for  divers 
other  good,  pious,  and  valuable  considerations  them  thereunto  moving,  have 
given,  granted  bargained,  sold,  aliened,  remised,  released,  and  confirmed;  and  by 
these  presents  do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  alien,  remise,  release,  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  Thomas  Gould,  Samuel  Crane,  Joseph  Gould,  Josepli  Baldwin,  John 
Gould,  Joseph  Harrison  and  Abraham  Xoe,  their  Heirs  and  Assigns,  all  that  cer- 
tain tract  or  parcel  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  in  Horse-neck,  in  the  County 
of  Essex,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey  aforesaid,  beginning  at  a  heap  of  stones  near 
a  maple  sapling  standing  on  the  South  side  of  the  road  that  leads  from  Horse- 
neck  afore  said  to  New-Ark,  being  also  a  corner  of  John  Edison's  land,  and  from 
thence  running  first  along  the  road  North  sixty-eight  degrees  West  four  chains  ; 
thence  North  thirtj'-nine  degress  and  forty-five  minutes  West  ten  chains  ;  thence 
North  forty-five  degrees  West  ten  chains ;  and  thence  North  sixty- 
five  degress  and  fifteen  minutes  West  ten  chains  and  ten  links,  to  a 
dry  oak  tree  at  a  corner  of  Saunders  Sanders'  land;  thence  along  his  line  and 
bounded  by  the  same  North  forty-nine  degress  and  fifteen  minutes  East  Eighteen 
chains  and  five  links  ;  thence  North  seventy-three  degress  East  four  chains  and 
eighty-eight  links,  to  another  corner  of  the  said  Saunders  Sanders'  land;  thence 
North  forty-seven  degress  East  four  chains  and  sixty  links  to  another  corner  of 
the  said  Saunders  Sanders'  land  ;  thence  East  eighteen  chains  and  nineteen  links; 
thence  South  thirty  degrees  East  thirteen  chains  and  seventeen  links,  to  a  stake 
in  the  said  John  Edison's  line;  and  thence  along  his  line  and  bounded  by  the 


60 

same  South  thirty-eight  degrees  and  thirty-scveu  iniiiutca  West  thirty-one  chains 
and  forty  links,  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  containing  ninety  acres  and  forty- 
seven  hundreths  of  an  acre  strict  measure,  being  the  same  tract  or  parcel  of  land 
■which  was  formerly  surveyed  for  Richard  Philips,  together  with  all  and  singular, 
the  edifices,  buildings,  ways,  waters,  water  courses,  commons,  profits,  woods, 
underwoods,  huntings,  hawkings,  fowlings,  fishings,  commodities,  privileges, 
advantages,  hereditaments,  rights,  members,  improvements,  and  appurtenances 
whatsoever,  unto  the  said  tract  or  parcel  of  land  hereby  given  and  granted  be- 
longing or  in  any  wise  apiiertaining  and  the  reversion  and  reversions,  remainder  and 
remainders,  rents,  issiies  and  profits,  thereof:  And  also  all  the  estate,  right,  title, 
interest,  property,  possession,  claim  and  demand  whatsoever,  both  in  law  and 
equity,  of  them  the  said  Caleb  Hctfield,  ViilUam  Crane,  and  Noah  Crane,  each 
and  every  of  them  respectively'  of,  in,  and  to  the  same  and  every  part  and  parcel 
thereof  with  the  appurtenances.  To  have  and  to  Jiold  all  and  singular  the  said 
tract  or  parcel  of  land  hereditaments  and  premises,  hereby  given  and  granted(or 
meant,  mentioned  or  intended  so  to  be),  with  their  and  every  of  their  rights, 
members  and  appurtenances  unto  them  the  said  Thomas  Gould,  Samuel  Cra7ie, 
Joseph  Goxdd,  Josejjh  Baldwin,  John  Gould,  Joseph  Harrison,  and  Abraham  Noe, 
their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  in  joint  tenancy.  In  trust  and  to,  for,  and  upon, 
the  several  uses,  interests,  and  purposes,  hereinafter  mentioned,  expressed,  lini' 
ited,  and  declared,  of  and  concerning  the  same,  and  to  no  other  use  or  purpose 
whatsoever ;  that  is  to  say  To  and  For  the  use  and  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  In- 
habitants of  said  Horse-neck  now  forming  or  who  may  from  time  to  time  hereaf- 
ter form  the  Congregation  of  Protestants  in  said  Horscneck,  called  and  hereafter 
to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Fikst  Puesbytekian  CnuRcn  in  Ilorse-ncck 
aforesaid ;  for  the  j)urposc  of  erecting  a  proper  building  and  buildings  for  the  sup- 
port and  convcnie.ncy  of  the  publick  worship  of  Almighty  God,  and  for  the  sup- 
port, maintenance  and  comfort  of  such  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Presby- 
terian denomination,  that  shall  be  hereafter  from  time  to  time  called,  chosen  and 
settled  by  the  said  Inhabitants  now  forming  or  who  hereafter  may  from  time 
to  time  form  the  said  congregation,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  First  Pres- 
BYTERiAN  CHURCH  iu  Horsc-ncck  aforesaid ;  and  also  for  the  use  of  a  place  of 
burial  for  said  Congregation  and  Inhabitants,  all  which  uses  are  to  bo 
in  such  manner  and  under  such  directions,  instructions,  and  limitations,  as  the 
said  congregation  shall  and  may  from  time  to  time  hereafter  appoint  and  direct  by 
their  vote  in  the  publick  meeting  of  said  congregation,  in  due  form  to  be  made 
and  taken,  and  to,  for,  and  upon  none  other  use  or  uses,  intents,  or  purposes 
whatsoever. 

And  the  said  Caleb  Hetjield,  William  Crane  and  Noah  Crane,  do  hereby  for  them- 
selves severally  and  respectively,  and  for  their  respective  heirs,  executors  and  ad- 
ministrators, covenant,  promise  and  grant  to  and  with  the  said  Thomas  Oould, 
Samuel  Crane,  Joseph  Gould,  Joseph  Baldwin,  John  Gould,  Joseph  Uarrison,  and 
Abraham  Noe,  their  heirs  and  assigns  that  all  and  singular  the  said  tract  or  jiarcel 
of  land  and  premises  hereby  given  and  granted,  now  are  free  and  clear  of  and 
from  all  former  and  other  gifts,  grants,  bargains,  sales,  leases,  and 
entails,  and  of  and  from  all  mortgages,  judgments  and  incumbrances  whatso- 


61 

ever,  by  them  or  auy  or  either  of  them  respectively  made,  executed,  or  suffered, 
and  that  the  same  premises  shall  aud  may  at  all  times  for  ever  hereafter  be 
peaceably  and  quietly  held,  used,  occupied,  jiossesscd,  and  enjoyed  by  them  tho» 
said  Thomas  Qould, Samuel  Crane,  Joseph  Gould,  Josep/t.  Baldwin,  John  doidd,  Jo- 
seph Harrison,  and  Abraham  Koe,  their  heirs  and  assi,u;ns  to  for  and  upon  the  sev- 
eral uses,  trusts,  intents,  and  purposes  hereinabove  expressed,  limited  and  de- 
clared, of  and  couccrnino;  the  same  without  any  the  lawful  let,  suit,  trouble,  hin- 
drance, molestation,  interruption  or  denial  of  them  the  said  Caleb  Hctjldd,  Wil- 
liam Crane  AUi\.  Xoah  Crane,  any  or  either  ot  them,  their^  any  or  either  of  their 
heirs  or  assigns,  and  of  all  and  every  other  person  or  persons  whomsoever  law- 
fully claiming  or  to  claim  the  same  or  any  part  or  parts  thereof  from,  by,  or  under 
them  or  any  or  either  of  them  respectively. 

And  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  for  themselves,  their  Heirs,  Execu- 
tors, Administrators  and  Assigns,  and  for  themselves  severally  and  for  their  sev- 
eral heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  do  hereby  covenant,  promise, 
grant,  and  agree,  to,  and  with,  the  said  Caleb  iletticld,  William  Crane  and  Noah 
Crane,  their  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  that  they  the  parties  of  the  sec- 
ond part,  their  heirs  and  assigns  shall  and  will  well  and  truly  take  and  hold  and 
keep  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises  with  the  appurtenances  to  and 
for  the  uses  and  purposes  above  particular!}'  set  forth  and  to  no  other  use  and 
purpose  whatever. 

And  that  they  shall  and  will  use  and  appropriate  and  sutler  to  be  used  and  ap- 
propriated the  premises  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  to  the  erecting  of  a  pro- 
per building  and  buildings,  for  the  support  and  convenience  of  the  publick  worshii> 
of  Almighty  God,  and  for  the  support  maintenance  and  comfort  of  such  minister 
of  the  Gospel  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  as  shall  hereafter  from  time  to 
time  be  chosen  called  and  settled  agreeable  topresbyterial  rule  and  order,  by  the 
said  Inhabitants,  now  forming  or  who  may  hereafter  from  time  to  time  form  the 
said  congregation  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  First  Pkesbyteuian  Chukch 
in  Ilorse-ueck  aforesaid,  aud  also  for  the  use  of  a  place  of  burial  for  the  said  con- 
gregation and  Inhabitants,  all  which  uses  shall  be  executed  by  the  said  parties  of 
the  second  part,  their  heirs  aud  assigns  in  such  manner  and  under  such  directions, 
restrictions,  aud  limitations,  as  the  said  Congregation  shall  and  may  from  time 
to  time  hereafter  ajipoint  and  direct,  by  their  vote  in  the  publick  meeting  of  said 
Congregation  in  due  form  to  be  made  and  taken. 

Iti  Witness  whereof  the  parties  to  these  presents  have  hcreuuto  interchangeably 

set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  written. 

Sealed  and  Delivered  )  Caleb  Hetfield    (L.S.) 

In  the  Presence  of      f  William  Ckane     (L.S.) 

Stephen  Baj.dwin  Noau  Cuane  (L.S.) 

Caleb  Dod 

James  Caldwell 

TuoMAs  Gould  (L.S.)  g 
Samuel  Crane  (L.S.)  5 
Joseph  Gould  (L.S.)  | 
Joseph  Baldwin  (L.S. )  ^ 
John  Gould  (L.S.)  2 
Joseph  J1arrison(L.S.)    P 


62 


Be  it  remembered  that  on  tlie  twenty-eighth  day  of  July  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  tliousand  seven  hundred  and  scventy-niue  personally  appeared  beiore 
'me,  Joseph  Hedden,  Jr.,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  lor  the  said  County  of  Essex,  Stephen  Btddvvin  one  of  the  within  Sub- 
scribing Evidences,  and  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Evangelist  of  the  Almightj^ 
God,  saith  that  he  saw  the  within  named  Caleb  Hetfickl,  William  Crane  and  Noah 
Crane  sign  seal  and  deliver  the  above  instrument  as  their  act  and  deed  for  the  use 
and  j)urposcs  therein  mentioned. 

Sworn  before  me  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

Josxpu  IIedden,  Jan. 


APPENDIXE. 

THE  ORIGINAL   CONFESSION. 

The  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Horse-neck  entered  into  by 
the  members  whose  names  are  above  inserted. 

Arlicle  1.  We  do  believe  that  there  is  but  one  God,  who  is  an  infinitely  per- 
fect and  holy  being,  the  Creator  and  governor  of  all  worlds,  and  that  this  God 
subsists  in  a  wonderfully  mysterious  and  incomprehensible  manner  in  three  per- 
sons, Fatlicr,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  who  are  equal  in  all  perfections  and  but  one 
God. 

Article  II.  That  the  writings  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  the  Word  of 
God  and  furnish  an  unerring,  perfect  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

Article  III.  We  approve  of  the  shorter  catechism  commonly  read  and  taught 
among  us  as  an  excellent  summary  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity  and  in  gen- 
eral agreeable  to  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

PAETICULARLY. 

1.  We  do  believe  that  our  first  parents  were  at  first  made  upright,  but  by  sin 
broke  covenant  with  God,  and  hereby  brought  themselves  and  their  posterity 
under  the  awful  curse  of  God,  into  a  state  of  total  corruption  and  infinite  guilt 
and  misery. 

2.  That  God  has  in  his  infinite  sovereign  mercy  provided  a  Saviour  for  lost  men, 
even  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  who  has  taken  upon  Him  our  nature  and  become  an 
all  sufficient  mediator,  so  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  is  pardoned,  justified, 
and  has  a  sure  title  to  everlasting  life,  purely  and  only  on  account  of  His  merits 
and  worthiness. 

3.  That  all  men  are  naturally  so  depraved  and  corrupted,  such  perfect  enemies 
to  God  and  the  Saviour  that  no  one  ever  will  believe  on  Christ  and  embrace  the 
gospel,  until  God  give  him  a  new  heart,  by  the  sovereign  and  irresistible  influence 
of  His  Holy  Spirit. 

4.  That  all  true  believers  do  persevere  in  faith  and  holiness  unto  the  end,  being 
kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  Salvation. 

5.  That  the  holy  law  of  God  which  requires  perfect  and  persevering  obedience 
is  the  rule  which  Christians  are  under. 


63 

6.  That  in  the  end  of  the  world,  there  -will  be  a  general  resurrection  of  the 
bodies  of  all,  both  of  the  righteous  and  wicked  and  a  day  of  judgment,  in  which 
Christ  the  judge,  will  sentence  the  wicked  to  eternal  destruction  and  receive  the 
righteous  to  life  everlasting. 

THE   COVENANT. 

You  do  now  in  the  awful  presence  of  the  dread  Majesty  of  Heaven  and  earth, 
the  searcher  of  all  hearts,  in  the  presence  of  the  elect  Angels  and  before  God's 
people  solemnly  profess  to  give  up  yourself  to  God,  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost,  and  choose  Him  for  your  God,  your  Father,  your  portion,  your  Saviour 
and  Sanctifier :  renouncing  all  the  ways  of  sin  as  what  you  truly  hate  and  abhor, 
and  choosing  the  service  of  God  as  your  greatest  privilege  ;  and  you  promise  by 
the  help  of  his  grace  to  live  a  holy  life  in  the  denial  of  yourself  and  all  ungodliness 
with  every  worldly  lust;  and  you  particularly  promise  to  comply  with  and  con 
stantly  and  faithfully  to  attend  upon  all  the  institutions  and  ordinances  of  Christ 
enjoyed  and  administered  here,  and  to  submit  to  the  discipline  of  Christ  in  this 
Church  so  long  as  you  shall  continue  to  be  of  the  number  of  its  members.  You 
also  engage  to  treat  them  all  with  that  christian  tenderness  and  brotherly  kindness 
which  become  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ. 


APPENDIX    F. 

Present  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Church— Adopted  April  2,  184C : 
In  the  presence  of  the  Eternal  God,  and  of  his  people,  you  present  yourself  to 
be  received  into  the  communion  of  this  church.    Previously,  however,  to  your 
being  thus  received,  your  cordial  assent  is  required  to  the  following  summary  of 
christian  doctrine. 

1.  You  believe  there  is  but  one  God,  the  Creator,  Sustainer  and  Governor,  of 
all  worlds  and  creatures.  The  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that 
these  three  are  one  in  essence,  equal  in  power  and  glory. 

2.  You  believe  that  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  are  the 
revealed  word  of  God  ;  that  they  arc  the  only  revelation  which  God  has  given  to 
his  church  ;  the  only  one  to  be  expected,  and  that  they  contain  a  perfect  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

3.  You  believe  the  scriptures  teach  us  that  our  first  parents  were  created  holy  ; 
that  by  their  voluntary  act  they  sinned  against  God  and  incurred  his  merited 
wrath;  that  in  consequence  of  this  disobedience,  all  their  posterity  arc  totally 
depraved. 

4.  You  believe  the  scriptures  further  teach,  that  God  in  infinite  mercy  has 
provided  a  way  of  salvation  through  the  mediation  and  death  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  verily  God ;  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  Savior ;  that  he  is  both 
able  and  willing  to  save  all  who  will  repent  and  believe  in  his  name. 

5.  You  also  believe  the  scriptures  teach  us,  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
receive  and  rest  upon  Christ  as  a  Savior  from  sin  and  wrath,  in  order  to  become 
interested  in  his  mediation ;  and  that  men  are  naturally  so  averse  to  holiness,  and 


64 

so  In  love  with  sin,  tliat  no  one  ever  will  love  God,  rei^ent  of  sin,  and  receive 
and  rest  upon  Christ  as  a  Savior,  until  his  heart  is  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 

G.  You  believe,  that  at  the  end  of  the  world  there  will  be  a  general  resurrection, 

and  a  day  of  judgment ;  that  Christ  will  then  sit  as  judge,  and  will  punish  the  finally 

impenitent  and  unbelieving  with  endless  misery;  and  that  he  will  receive  the 

rigliteous  into  his  kingdom,  which  is  everlasting,  and  into  joys  which  are  eternal. 

[To  this  summary  of  christian  doctrine  you  cordially  assent  ] 

[IFere  bapti.vn  is  to  be  administered.] 


CO  VEI^  ANT. 

You  do  now,  in  this  public  manner,  before  God,  angels,  and  men,  cheerfully 
avouch  Jehovah,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  your  God,  your  Father,  your 
Redeemer,  your  Sanctifier,  and  your  portion. 

You  take  the  scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  to  be  the  rule  of  your 
conduct  and  the  measure  of  your  faith. 

You  do  now  renounce  the  world,  and  sincerely  embrace  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
as  your  Savior,  and  the  object  of  your  highest  love ;  and  you  rest  your  hope  simply 
on  him  to  pardon  your  sins,  and  by  his  Spirit  to  strengthen  you  for  duty,  to  deliver 
yoir  from  every  remaining  corruption,  and  finally  to  present  you  without  spot  or 
blemish  before  the  throne  of  God. 

You  profess  that  it  is  the  will  and  purpose  of  your  heart,  to  live  a  holy,  humble, 
prayerful  and  devoted  life;  to  maintain  the  purity  of  your  christian  profession, 
and  to  be  an  example  to  those  who  are  without,  that  they  seeing  your  good  works, 
may  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  Heaven. 

You  promise  to  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day,  to  attend  public  worship,  to 
observe  the  Lord's  supper,  regularly  to  maintain  closet  and  family  devotion,  and 
indeed,  endeavor  to  do  your  duty  in  whatever  station  Providence  may  place  you. 

You  do  likewise  covenant,  that  you  will  submit  to  the  order  and  discipline  of 
this  church,  so  long  as  you  are  continued  a  member  thereof ;  that  you  will  kindly 
give  and  receive  admonition  ;  and  that  you  will  in  all  things  treat  your  brethren 
with  that  tenderness  and  fidelity  which  become  the  disciples  of  Christ,  and 
brethren  of  the  same  household. 

Thus  you  solemnly  covenant  and  promise. 

Having  thus  engaged  and  promised,  and  having  received  the  sacrament  of 
baptism,  this  church  stretches  forth  the  hand  of  fellowship,  and  this  day  invites 
you  to  unite  in  the  breaking  of  bread  and  in  the  pouring  out  of  wine. 


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